Common Disorders Causing Balance Problems

ABSTRACT

Balance disorders represent a growing concern due to the association with falls, particularly in elderly and patient with brain disorders. Balance disorders can occur when there is a disruption in any of the vision, vestibular sense, proprioception, muscle strength and reaction. Therefore, balance disorders may indicate various causes such as inner ear disorders, peripheral neuropathy, brain tumors, and brain injury including stroke. Also, aging itself is one of risk factor for balance disorder because there is a progressive loss of functioning of these systems in the elderly. However, disorder in any system may not mean the balance disorder, because balance is the result of several body systems working together. In addition to remediation of the disorder, balance training to enhance compensatory mechanism is an effective therapy for patients with balance disorder.