Balance Assessment in Physical Therapy

With modern medicine growing each day in its efficacy, we are seeing many people lead happy, healthier lives. As good as this sounds, one cannot ignore the reality of individual health, as we all have differing circumstances that make us unique. With too many unwilling or unable to adopt an active lifestyle, physical health is affected in many ways. For the elderly in particular, a steady decline can occur in balance.

Quality of life is not the only thing that is multifactorial. A myriad of factors could also impede your balance, but there is a way to combat this. Balance assessment in physical therapy is something that our team of medical professionals with Healing Therapeutics automatically performs. Physical therapy is a multi-faceted approach and takes many factors into consideration.

Looking at Musculoskeletal Functions

The following elements are what PT’s look at as part of balance assessment in physical therapy:

#1- Range of Motion (ROM)

If range of motion is limited in some of your key joints, it can increase your susceptibility to falling. A loss of flexibility in the spine can impact postural alignment. The lack of flexibility shifts the center of body mass backwards toward the heel. Since ankle flexibility is vital for postural control. Ankle joint range of motion has been the proponent for extensive research. Ankle joint flexibility, specifically dorsiflexion, will decline by as much as 50% in women and 35% in men, between the ages of 55 and 85.

#2- Strength and Muscle Testing

Strength plays a pivotal role in our ability to stay balanced. One of the main culprits for inconsistent balance is weakness in the hip muscles, but this is not the only cause. PT’s will conduct brief, but thorough muscle testing assessments, isolating the muscle groups will provide details on where the point of focus should be.

#3- Pain Assessment

Pain hinders balance by counteracting postural alignment and available range of motion. In particular, back pain has been reported to be one of the most influential factors that affects both health and functional capacity in seniors.

What are the various Balance Tests?

More and more therapists are conducting specialized tests to determine the abilities of the patient, both pre- and post-intervention. There is no shortage of tests to choose from. The therapist will use his or her discretion in determining which tests are the most appropriate for their patients. Some examples of common tests for balance assessment in physical therapy include:

The Berg Balance Scale: Focuses more on stationary balance (i.e., ability to stand with and without eyes closed, tandem, and so on.)
Dynamic GAIT Index: This test will assess a patient’s balance during walking, while the patient is performing different tasks like altering speed or stepping around an object.
Tinetti Balance Assessment: This assessment is a combination of Berg and the Dynamic Gait Index. It analyzes one’s strength for stationary and walking components.
Function in Sitting Test: Patients who cannot stand will benefit more from this method of testing.
Time Up and Go: Time Up and Go will assess one’s speed of rising up from a chair, walking about 10 feet, turning, and returning to the seated position. The longer it takes to accomplish this task, the greater the risk of falling.