Balance & Gait Disorders (917) 763-7825(917) 763-7825 About Our Practice Why We’re Different Our Team Join Our Team What We Treat Headaches & Migraines Back Pain & Sciatica Relief Neck Pain Relief Shoulder Pain Relief Hip and Knee Pain Relief Elbow Wrist & Hand Pain Relief Foot and Ankle Pain Relief Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries Balance & Gait Disorders Arthritis Chronic Pain Relief Pre-Surgical Rehab Post-Surgical Rehab Neurological Disorders Sports Injuries Work Injuries Ergonomics TMJ Dysfunction Vestibular Dysfunction Tennis Elbow Scoliosis View More Conditions How We Treat Manual Therapy Joint Mobilization Massage Therapy IASTM Hand Therapy Kinesio Taping Pelvic Floor Therapy Cupping Dance Therapy Concussion Therapy Myofascial Release Biodex Systems Testing Feldenkrais Running Method Pediatric Orthopedic Therapy Pediatric and Adult Sports Injuries Pre and Post-Natal Injuries Vocal Cord Therapy Certified Strength & Conditioning Golf Improvement Therapy Selective Functional Movement Assessment Patient Info Patient Info / Forms Insurance Info Patient Testimonials Refer a Friend FAQs App Health Tips Health Blog Ebooks Newsletters Contact Balance & Gait Disorders Home » What We Treat » Balance & Gait Disorders Quick links PATIENT INFO / FORMS OUR LOCATIONS FAQS VIEW MORE CONDITIONS (LIBRARY) Request Appointment Are You Ready To Live Pain-Free? REQUEST APPOINTMENT Latest Blogs 7 Ways To Control Pain and Inflammation With A Better Diet READ MORE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH BLOG No Fields Found. Ebook Upcoming Workshops Your gait refers to the way in which you walk. This includes your stride, how fast you walk, and the way that your hips, feet and legs move together to help you take each step. When a problem develops with your gait, such as due to an injury or some other abnormality, it can lead to discomfort when walking, as well as a significant amount of pain. Balance and Gait Disorders are incredibly common, especially among older adults, and should be addressed as quickly as possible so to reduce the risk of further injury as a result of a trip or fall accident. What are Gait and Balance Disorders? Your gait and balance are intricate in nature. Each relies on the movement of so many different parts of the body, and each are incredibly dependent on a long list of external factors. There are so many different elements that can impact your gait and your balance, from the type of shoes you are wearing to how many hours of sleep you got last night. Proper gait and ideal balance really do require a full-body effort, utilizing: Ears Eyes Brain Core Muscles Feet, ankles and legs Sensory Nerves When a problem develops in any one of these areas it can lead to difficulty walking, trouble with balance, unsteadiness on your feet, and even dizziness and lightheadedness, which can further complicate your ability to balance. Causes of Gait and Balance Disorders Those who have experienced an injury in the past, as well as those who are of increased age are most susceptible to gait and balance disorders. The most common causes of gait and balance disorders include: Injury Trauma Inflammation Chronic pain Of courses, there are almost countless reasons as to why one of these concerns may develop, including the development of arthritis, or other causes of joint pain, as well as chronic illnesses and autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and lesser known diseases such as Guillen Barre and Meniere’s disease. In addition, conditions like peripheral neuropathy, gout, and even a brain tumor or hemorrhage can cause balance disruptions or difficulty walking, which can lead to a gait disorder. While many of these conditions are chronic illnesses that are frequently outside of your control, there are also a handful of environmental and preventative health issues that can have a negative impact on your balance and gait. This includes troubles like obesity, as well as chronic alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiency, and even lingering pain from an injury to your knees, feet or ankles. How Recovery Physical Therapy Helps With Balance and Gait Disorders In most cases, the issue with balance and gait disorders can be addressed by working with a physical therapist. There are several tests that a physical therapist will do to diagnose the cause of your gait and balance troubles, including hearing tests, testing for inner ear disorder or infection, as well as vision tests. In some cases abnormal eye movement can contribute to difficulty with balance, but in other situations the problem is based on something more physical. Your physical therapist will identify what is causing trouble with your gait and balance, and then can work with you to help you retrain your body to be able to walk and balance like normal again. This typically requires a combination of efforts, and a comprehensive treatment plan will typically engage strategies like muscle training, flexibility and range of motion training, and in some cases targeted massage to address tension build-up in muscles. Gait and balance disorders are especially common with increased age, and so as you begin getting older it is important to watch for the development of concerns like this. As a rule, the earlier you identify and begin treating problems with your gait and balance, the easier the issues become to address. If you are experiencing trouble with your gait or balance, contact us today at our Manhattan, New York, Broadway, Larchmont, Midtown, Upper East Side, NY & Millburn, and NJ Centers locations. Balance & Gait Disorders Recovery starts here. RPT Fashion District (NYC) 530 Seventh Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-840-3030 RPT Flatiron District (NYC) 902 Broadway (at 21st St) New York, NY 10010 Phone: 646-654-1835 RPT Millburn, NJ 194 Main Street Millburn NJ 07041 Phone: 973-564-9559 RPT Upper East Side (NYC) 157 East 86th St at Lexington Ave 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10028 Phone: 212-831-3315 RPT Upper West Side (NYC) 207 West 79th Street New York, NY 10024 Phone: 212-874-1550 RPT Westchester (Larchmont, NY) 1385 Boston Post Rd Larchmont, NY 10538 Phone: 914-834-7222 REQUEST APPOINTMENT About Our Practice Why We’re Different Our Team Join Our Team Health Tips Health Blog Newsletters Patient Info Patient Info / Forms Insurance Info Patient Testimonials Refer a Friend FAQs App What We Treat Headaches & Migraines Back Pain & Sciatica Relief Neck Pain Relief Shoulder Pain Relief Hip and Knee Pain Relief Elbow Wrist & Hand Pain Relief Foot and Ankle Pain Relief Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries Balance & Gait Disorders Arthritis Chronic Pain Relief Pre-Surgical Rehab Post-Surgical Rehab Neurological Disorders Sports Injuries Work Injuries Ergonomics TMJ Dysfunction Vestibular Dysfunction Tennis Elbow Scoliosis View More Conditions How We Treat Manual Therapy Joint Mobilization Massage Therapy IASTM Hand Therapy Kinesio Taping Pelvic Floor Therapy Cupping Dance Therapy Concussion Therapy Myofascial Release Biodex Systems Testing Feldenkrais Running Method Pediatric Orthopedic Therapy Pediatric and Adult Sports Injuries Pre and Post-Natal Injuries Vocal Cord Therapy Certified Strength & Conditioning Golf Improvement Therapy Selective Functional Movement Assessment © Recovery Physical Therapy 2021 | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Business Center Powered by Practice Promotions Hi I'm Victoria! How can I help you today? REQUEST AN EVALUATION