The Balance Center

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Symptoms of Balance Disorder

Dizziness
Motion sickness
Sensation of falling or spinning
Nausea
Unsteadiness
Clumsiness
Staggering
Frequent Falls
Light-headedness

If you answered “yes”... to two or more
of these symptoms, you may
have a balance disorder. It’s important that you discuss these symptoms with your physician, who can refer you to Northwest Texas Healthcare System
for evaluation and treatment.

Understanding Balance Disorder
Although most of us experience occasional episodes of dizziness, approximately four in 10 Americans have more prolonged dizziness that could be signs of a balance disorder. Although they are more common in older people, balance disorders affect people of all ages.

Balance depends on messages sent to the brain by our eyes, muscles, joints and vestibular system(inner ear). If any of these systems are
disrupted, people may experience balance disorder, signaled by vertigo, dizziness or clumsiness.

Some balance disorders last several months and eventually resolve on their own. Without treatment, however, many patients have difficulty functioning and may be at greater risk for serious falls and injuries.

BALANCE PROGRAM AT NORTHWEST
If your doctor feels you need to be evaluated for a balance disorder, you may be referred to The Balance Center at Northwest Texas Healthcare System where individualized evaluation and treatment plans are offered.

TREATMENT AT THE BALANCE CENTER
The goal at The Balance Center is to help patients strengthen weaknesses in their balance systems or develop other abilities to compensate for those weaknesses.

Treatment May Include:

POSITIONING THERAPY
Therapists direct patients through a series of maneuvers to re-position calcium crystals in the inner ear which often cause balance problems.
ADAPTATION & SUBSTITUTION THERAPY
Patients’ use of vision and sensation is enhanced to help maintain balance.
EXERCISE
Patients perform specific exercises that challenge and strengthen areas needed for balance.

Although some patients can be treated successfully in one visit, the average length of treatment is four weeks.

For more information, call 806-351-7045.

Note: The information on this Web site is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice. Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your physician. Neither Northwest Texas Healthcare System, or any of their affiliates, nor any contributors shall have any liability for the content or any errors or omissions in the information provided by this Web site.

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