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Physical Therapy for balance, walking and posture
This page covers feeling unsteady, changes in how you walk, and posture: what each can involve and what a Physical Therapy evaluation may consider.
Balance and gait concerns
Balance problems can make you feel unsteady, and they are one cause of falls. Changes in your normal walking pattern are called gait dysfunctions. Causes include inner-ear problems, nervous system conditions, and muscle, joint or bone conditions or injuries.
It is important to see your doctor about balance problems. They can be a sign of other health problems.
An evaluation may consider
- Watching you walkStep length, width, and changes in step timing or path.
- Walking speedHow quickly you walk, timed.
- BalanceWhether balance is part of the difficulty.
- Strength and range of motionWhether muscles, bones or joints are involved.
- Reflexes and sensationWhether a nerve or brain condition may be involved.
- Heart rate and blood pressureMeasured before and after walking.
Poor posture
Workplace guidance describes a neutral posture as one that is comfortable, with the joints naturally aligned. It also says that holding one posture for long periods is unhealthy, even if the posture is good.
Read next
Treatment approaches
Patient information and clinics
When to get medical care first
See the full safety checklist
- Call 911 right away for sudden difficulty walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. These can be signs of a stroke.
- After a fall, if you think you may have broken a bone, get medical care right away.
- See your doctor about new or worsening balance problems.
Other situations
Two clinics, one way to ask
Call either clinic, or send an appointment request.
Edison
East Windsor
How a request works
- Open and send your emailShare your name, email, cell phone, your preferred clinic and when you are generally free. The form opens a draft in your own email app. Review it and send it from your mail app yourself; the website does not send it. Please leave out symptoms, diagnoses and insurance details.
- We contact youWe will contact you by the next business day, by phone, text or email, whichever you prefer.
- The clinic confirms itYour appointment is confirmed only after the clinic responds and agrees a time with you.
Submitting a request does not confirm an appointment. Your appointment is confirmed only after the clinic responds.