At my Cincinnati Chiropractic Clinic I treat many elders who are affected by balance problems. In fact, dizziness, “wooziness,” and other balance-related problems affect at least 9% of adults, aged 65 and older. Good balance is essential, of course, in aiding elders in staying independent and in avoiding falls and encounter injuries that are commonly very serious or even fatal. But, I wonder if you are aware that falls produce a large portion of work injuries for workers younger than 65 years of age, including workers in their twenties and thirties? That’s right! Balance challenges can take place at any age. That is why those who work in “high places” like construction workers, roofers, oil platform employees, windows cleaners, or any other place where a ladder is required are far more vulnerable to serious injury if their balance is “off.”
The principal action of good balance is to help us to manage and maintain our body position, whether we are standing still or moving, and whether we are on the ground or high up on a platform. Good balance aids us in walking without staggering, arising from a sitting position without teeterin, and in climbing stairs without missing a step. It is obvious, then, that good balance is vital to our health and well-being.
What come as a surprise to you is that you could have a balance problem without realizing how serious it may be. Often times someone is able to “shake off” a dizzy feeling and the feeling may not return for a while. The danger is that when precipetous dizziness comes about at a decisive moment, it is too late to shake it off and a fall is most likely certain.
The feeling by some people that they, personally, are spinning or that objects around them are moving is called “vertigo.” About forty percent of people in the U.S. will have at least one incidence of dizziness that is acute enough to seek out a health professional, such as your Chiropractor at Cincinnati Chiropractic. That said, if you work at any of the jobs listed above, it is a highly beneficial idea for you to see a chiropractor to have your balance checked prior to a sudden episode of dizziness, rather than as a response to such an episode. Why? Because as a chiropractor, I can not only check your balance, and make adjustments if necessary, but can assist you in maintaining good balance in the future. And, naturally, having good balance may save you from serious injury or worse.
Balance disorders are dangerous at any age. It is essential for you to be examined and treated without delay if you think that you may have a possible balance disorder. To help to make your decision easier if you can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, even if the experience is seldom or infrequent, you should discuss the symptom(s) with a chiropractor as soon as possible:
• Have you experienced a feeling of being “unsteady?”
• Has the room seemed to spin around you?
• Has there ever a time when you felt as if you were moving when you knew you were standing still?
• Have you lost your balance and/or fallen down?
• Have you ever felt as if you were falling?
• Has your vision ever become “blurred?”
• Have you ever felt disoriented, or lost a sense of time, place or identity?
As discussed above, balance problems are not confined to a particular age group. Our falling down is an ever-present possibility from the time we learn to walk until we take our final step If you work in a job that makes your falling down a “critical” event, you need to have your balance checked. Don’t wait until you sustain a work injury! If you’re in the area, give your Cincinnati Chiropractor a call today. I can help!