Chiropractic can improve your balance and coordination
If you’re lacking balance and coordination, it could be related to your spinal health. Most likely, it will have come on slowly, so subtle changes may have gone unnoticed. However, over time your balance and coordination has deteriorated to the point that you can no longer ignore it.
Balance & Coordination
Many people do not realise the benefits of chiropractic care, especially when it comes to issues of balance and coordination. Balance and coordination are key to being able to carry out your daily routine, prevent falls and improve sporting performance. There are several different structures involved in balance and coordination. They all need to be working in sync for this system to work well.
Spinal Alignment
Your chiropractor will provide adjustments that will align your body and restore joint function, which can make a huge difference in your balance and coordination. Your centre of gravity can easily become off-balance if your spine or any other joint in your body is not in alignment, which will disrupt the coordination of the nervous system. An adjustment from your chiropractor can restore spinal balance and remove the subluxations causing you to be off-centre.
Proprioception
Proprioception refers to the body’s ability to sense its position in space, which is vital for maintaining balance and coordination. For example, if you were to close your eyes and raise your arm, you would be able to feel where your hand is and how close to you it is.
All your joints have nerve receptors which help with your sense of proprioception. Therefore, if a joint is stiff, or restricted then your body’s sense of space is affected. Chiropractic adjustments can enhance proprioceptive input by ensuring that joints, particularly those in the spine, are moving correctly. Improved joint motion can lead to better sensory feedback to the brain, which in turn improves coordination. This is especially important in sports where precision and accuracy are important.
Vestibular System Support
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, is critical for balance. It works in conjunction with the nervous system. Balance is controlled by three main systems, the eyes, inner ears, and the spine. These work together as a reflex, like a circuit board, if any of these three are not performing to the best quality then you may experience issues with you balance or coordination. The movement of the upper neck and its surrounding muscles, feed alot of information the brain and inner ear. This upper neck movement is responsible for telling the brain what is happening in the outside world.
Some chiropractic techniques, such as specific adjustments or exercises, may help in stimulating and supporting the vestibular system, contributing to better balance.
Patients suffering with BPPV, Labyrinthitis, Tinnitus, Vertigo and Meniere’s can also gain benefit from chiropractic care as it can help to manage symptoms and to speed recovery.
Muscle Strength and Flexibility
Strong and flexible muscles are essential for maintaining balance and preventing falls. Chiropractic care often includes physical therapy, stretches, and exercises that strengthen and lengthen muscles.Your chiropractor can also provide guidance on posture and ergonomics, which can prevent strain on the muscles and joints, further supporting balance and coordination in a holistic way.
Fall Prevention
As we age, balance issues can become more pronounced, increasing the risk of falls. Regular chiropractic care can be part of a proactive approach to maintaining balance and coordination in older adults, potentially reducing this risk. A study has linked quad strength, the muscles in your thigh, with reduced mortality from heart disease and other causes. Higher leg strength is also seen to benefit your cognitive function in later years. This means that it can reduce the risk of diseases such a dementia and Alzheimers.
When to Consider Chiropractic Care
• If you or someone you know is experiencing chronic issues with balance or coordination, chiropractic care might be a useful component of a broader treatment plan.
• Following an injury, especially one affecting the back, neck, or head, chiropractic care may help restore balance and coordination.
• Older adults may benefit from regular chiropractic check-ups to maintain balance and reduce the risk of falls.
• Improving balance and coordination can help athletes perform at a higher level and reduce their risk of injury.
• Coordination and balance impacts everything we do on a daily basis; therefore, it is important we look after it not only for ourselves now, but for the future and our general wellbeing.
As always, consult with your chiropractor for your specific needs, especially if there are underlying conditions that could be contributing to balance and coordination issues.
If you know someone who could benefit from this blog post, please share it with them. We offer a complimentary spine check to anyone who is interested in how chiropractic may be able to help them. You can book this online, or by calling 02082951733
