Signs of poor balance include frequent unsteadiness, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, experiencing vertigo (a spinning sensation), and a fear of falling or actual falls. Other symptoms include blurred vision, confusion, disorientation, difficulty walking, and a sensation of floating. These issues often stem from inner ear problems, medication side effects, or neurological conditions.
Signs and symptoms of balance problems include:
If you have a balance disorder, your symptoms might include:
Symptoms of balance problems
You should worry about balance problems if they are new, severe, persistent, or accompanied by symptoms like sudden severe headache, numbness/weakness, vision changes, confusion, trouble breathing, or fainting, as these can signal emergencies like a stroke; otherwise, see a doctor for any recurring dizziness, unsteadiness, or falls that affect daily life.
To regain balance, incorporate daily exercises like single-leg stands, heel-to-toe walking, and sit-to-stands, use sturdy support like a chair, and consider activities like Yoga, Tai Chi, or Pilates for core strength and stability, while also ensuring you're hydrated and checking medications with a doctor if balance issues persist.
Cerebellum. The cerebellum sits at the back of the brain and controls your sense of balance.
Sensor pads attached to your neck and forehead and under your eyes measure tiny changes in muscle contractions in reaction to sounds. Imaging tests. MRI and CT scans can determine if underlying medical conditions might be causing your balance problems. Blood pressure and heart rate tests.
Medications that affect balance
Place your hand on top of the counter or table if you are unsteady. Stand still and challenge your balance by bringing your feet close together or standing on one foot. Now close your eyes and see if it's harder to maintain your balance. You'll notice it's more difficult with your eyes closed.
Researchers have found that balance begins to decline in midlife, starting at about age 50. In one recent study, adults in their 30s and 40s could stand on one foot for a minute or more. At age 50, the time decreased to 45 seconds.
Feeling off-balance without dizziness often signals issues with your inner ear, nervous system, or circulation, stemming from causes like dehydration, medication side effects, neck strain, or conditions such as BPPV, peripheral neuropathy, or even migraines, requiring a doctor's visit for proper diagnosis and management of potential underlying problems.
Healthcare providers typically perform a Romberg test on all people who are having issues with balance, dizziness and falls to help determine if their balance issues are related to issues with proprioception. They also often include the test during physical neurological exams.
Walking can help with balance. Almost anything you do that keeps you on your feet and moving can help with balance somewhat. But adding exercises to your daily routine to improve your balance can help make you more stable. Balance exercises can help keep you moving safely and help you stay independent.
"Put simply, as soon as you wake up, it's five push-ups, five squats, five lunges (per leg) and a 30-second plank. The idea is to wake your body up, get your blood flowing, and tick off some strength-based movement before your day properly begins. Think of it as a mini circuit to shake off sleep and boost your energy."
The most common causes of a balance disorders
Inner ear problems or damage to any of the vestibular system apparatus – will affect the way the vestibular system responds to the challenges of the environment you are in.
Ménière disease is a balance disorder. It's caused by an abnormality in part of the inner ear called the labyrinth. Fluid buildup here can cause a severe spinning feeling (vertigo) and affect the hearing.
If this is a new problem for you, the key question is whether you should call 911 and go immediately to the emergency room. If you are dizzy right now and have any of the following neurological symptoms along with your dizziness or vertigo, call 911 immediately: New confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech.
Balance issues often stem from the inner ear, so an ENT is your go-to for evaluating and correcting balance disorders. A few of the underlying causes of dizziness that ENTs treat include: Ear infections. Infections in the middle ear are caused by a virus or bacteria.
This includes drugs belonging to the classes antihistaminics and anticholinergics. Some calcium channel blockers like Verapamil and Nimodipine and GABA modulators like gabapentin and Baclofen may also help.