Common Causes
Causes Of Loss Of Balance And Coordination. Infection: Infection in brain such as brain tuberculosis or meningitis can cause damage to the cerebellum resulting in imbalance. Muscle weakness: It is more commonly seen in old people as old age causes loss of muscle mass. Weak muscles will find difficulty in holding the body weight.
Related Conditions
Arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other degenerative disorders can affect your balance by disrupting normal proprioception. They also interfere with motor control. But even simple muscle fatigue or weakness can cause problems.
What causes loss of balance and coordination?
Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or problems with your vision, thyroid, nerves, or blood vessels can cause dizziness and other balance problems. Visit the NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders website for more information on specific balance disorders .
Why do I have trouble with my balance?
Any physical injury can potentially affect balance, especially when it makes it more difficult to coordinate movement. A person with good coordination may struggle to walk on crutches or a broken leg. Sometimes, injuries cause chronic pain or loss of strength, leading to longer-term balance problems. Loss of balance while walking
Why do I have dizziness and balance problems?
How can a physical injury affect balance?
Why is my balance and coordination off?
Loss of balance or unsteadiness Losing your balance while walking, or feeling imbalanced, can result from: Vestibular problems. Abnormalities in your inner ear can cause a sensation of a floating or heavy head and unsteadiness in the dark. Nerve damage to your legs (peripheral neuropathy).
What neurological disorders cause balance issues?
Causes of Balance Disordersdecreased blood flow to the brain due to stroke or a chronic condition such as aging.traumatic brain injury.multiple sclerosis.hydrocephalus.seizures.Parkinson's disease.cerebellar diseases.acoustic neuromas and other brain tumors.
What medical conditions cause balance problems?
Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or problems with your vision, thyroid, nerves, or blood vessels can cause dizziness and other balance problems.
What are 3 signs or symptoms of equilibrium problems?
They often involve dizziness or vertigo (a spinning or falling sensation). Some people also experience blurred vision and disorientation. Balance problems are a common symptom of many different medical conditions.
What are early signs of neurological problems?
Symptoms may include:Persistent or sudden onset of a headache.A headache that changes or is different.Loss of feeling or tingling.Weakness or loss of muscle strength.Loss of sight or double vision.Memory loss.Impaired mental ability.Lack of coordination.More items...
Are balance problems a symptom of MS?
Problems with balance and feeling dizzy are common in MS, and can have knock-on effects on your walking. Like all MS symptoms, these issues affect people differently, and vary from day to day.
What part of the brain affects your balance?
CerebellumCerebellum. The cerebellum sits at the back of the brain and controls your sense of balance. This allows you to stand up, walk in a straight line, and know if you are standing up or sitting down.
Can balance problems be neurological?
While the vast majority of balance problems are caused by problems with the inner ear, there may be neurological causes for balance disorders which require neurological care.
What part of the body controls balance?
The vestibular system is one of the sensory systems that provides your brain with information about balance, motion, and the location of your head and body in relation to your surroundings. There are three loops in your inner ear, called semicircular canals.
What tests are done for balance issues?
You may get one or more of the following tests:Electronystagmography (ENG) and videonystagmography (VNG) tests. ... Rotary test, also known as a rotary chair test. ... Posturography, also known as computerized dynamic posturography (CDP). ... Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) test. ... Dix hallpike maneuver.
How do doctors diagnose balance problems?
A posturography test indicates which parts of your balance system you rely on most. Electronystagmography and videonystagmography. Both tests record your eye movements, which play a role in vestibular function and balance.
Why do I feel off balance when I walk?
Vestibular balance disorders can affect your balance and make you feel disoriented. Common causes include inner ear problems, medicines, infections, and traumatic brain injury. These disorders can occur at any age. But they are most common as you get older.
Does a neurologist deal with balance problems?
Our neurologists and neurosurgeons diagnose and treat balance dysfunction that is the result of neurologic disorders or neurologic impairment. While the vast majority of balance problems are caused by problems with the inner ear, there may be neurological causes for balance disorders which require neurological care.
How does a neurologist check your balance?
The Romberg test is a test that measures your sense of balance. It's typically used to diagnose problems with your balance, which is composed of your visual, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive (positional sense) systems during a neurological exam.
What part of the brain affects your balance?
CerebellumCerebellum. The cerebellum sits at the back of the brain and controls your sense of balance. This allows you to stand up, walk in a straight line, and know if you are standing up or sitting down.
What part of the brain causes problems with walking and balance?
Cerebellum and brainstem It may cause difficulty with walking and balance, hand coordination, speech and swallowing, and eye movements. Ataxia usually results from damage to the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum) or its connections.
What is the best way to diagnose gait problems?
A physical and neurological examination can diagnose gait or balance problems. Your doctor will also ask questions about your symptoms and their severities.
How to treat gait and balance issues?
Treatment for gait and balance issues depends on the cause. Treatments may include medications and physical therapy.
What is nerve conduction study?
A nerve conduction study and electromyogram can be used to evaluate for muscle problems and peripheral neuropathy. You doctor may also order blood tests to evaluate for causes of balance problems.
Why is walking so hard?
Other causes include limited range of motion and fatigue. Muscle weakness can occur in one or both legs making walking difficult.
Is gait and balance dependent on medical condition?
The outlook of gait and balance problems is dependent on your underlying medical condition.
Can walking problems be long term?
Walking difficulties can be temporary or long-term, depending on the cause.
What are the symptoms of balance problems?
Symptoms of balance problems. Balance issues typically fall into one of two categories: physical injuries or neurological and inner ear issues. A person with vertigo or other forms of dizziness may have trouble coordinating their movements.
Why is my balance not walking?
Loss of balance while walking. Diagnosis. How to improve balance. When to see a doctor. Summary. Most balance problems occur because of brain or inner ear problems, or physical issues, such as broken bones or muscle injuries. Balance problems can make it difficult to walk or move.
What is the vestibular system?
The vestibular system is part of the inner ear. It provides information to the brain about the sense of balance and where the body is in space. It also works together with the eyes and brain to make movement feel smooth and coordinated. The vestibular system helps the brain coordinate numerous actions, including standing up, walking, ...
What happens if you lose balance while walking?
If a person finds they frequently lose balance while walking, they may consider talking to a doctor. They may have a balance disorder, such as a condition affecting the inner ear or brain.
Why are inner ear problems more vulnerable to vertigo?
People with inner ear problems are more vulnerable to vertigo, as the inner ear is a key source of a person’s sense of balance.
Why does the brain stop working?
Stroke. A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain temporarily stops or slows, often due to a blood clot or bleed. This can damage brain tissue and interfere with the brain’s ability to communicate with the body. Some people have problems with balance during or after a stroke.
What is spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord injury. A spinal cord injury damages or severs the spinal cord. This makes it more difficult, and sometimes impossible, for the brain to send messages to the body. Depending on the severity of the injury, this may cause balance and mobility problems, or may completely paralyze a person.
What causes dizziness in the inner ear?
Vestibular neuronitis is an infection of the inner ear that can cause dizziness and a loss of balance. It can happen when the vestibular nerve in the inner ear is infected or inflamed due to a virus, such as the flu.
What is the cause of dizziness, nausea, and loss of balance?
Labyrinthitis. Labyrinthitis may cause dizziness, nausea, and a loss of balance. Labyrinthitis is an infection of the inner ear, or the labyrinth. The labyrinth, or the vestibular system, is the structure of the inner ear that helps people stay balanced. If the labyrinth becomes infected or inflamed, it can cause a loss ...
What does it mean when you have a spinning sensation?
People with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), or positional vertigo, tend to feel a spinning sensation when they turn their head in a certain way. BPPV occurs when calcium carbonate crystals in the ear come loose and move into the semicircular canals of the inner ear.
What are the two types of vertigo?
There are two main types of vertigo: Peripheral vertigo: This often results from a condition affecting the inner ear, such as an inner ear infection or Ménière’s disease. Central vertigo: Central vertigo is less common and can be a result of a neurological disorder, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis.
What is the name of the hole in the middle of the ear that allows fluid to leak through the ear?
Perilymph fistula. Perilymph fistula is a condition wherein a small hole between the inner ear and middle ear allows fluid to leak through to the middle ear. A fistula can occur due to a head injury, chronic ear infections, or extreme changes in air pressure.
How to treat Ménière's disease?
To treat Ménière’s disease, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat nausea and dizziness. Injections or applying ear pressure pulses may also help.
How does Ménière's disease affect the inner ear?
Ménière’s disease affects the inner ear. Fluid builds up in the inner ear , making it difficult for signals to reach the brain. This disruption affects a person’s ability to balance and hear. If people have Ménière’s disease, they may feel dizzy and have a ringing in their ears.
What causes balance problems?
1. Inner Ear Problems. Problems with the inner ear—or vestibular system —are the most common cause of balance disorders. Your vestibular system senses when you move your head, your body movements, and your position in space. It sends this information to your brain.
What are some examples of nervous system problems that can cause balance problems?
Stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury, and peripheral neuropathies are examples of nervous system problems that can cause balance problems. 5. Heart Problems. You may wonder what your heart has to do with balance. Blood flow is the link. To keep your systems working properly, they need adequate blood flow.
What is the nervous system?
Nervous System Problems. Your nervous system relays sensory input from your vestibular system, eyes, and body to your brain. Your brain integrates and interprets this input to give you a sense of balance and equilibrium. Balance problems can result if any part of your nervous system isn’t working right.
What are the inner ear problems?
Inner ear problems include labyrinthitis and Meniere’s disease, among others. 2. Vision Problems. Along with your vestibular system, your brain receives input from your eyes to coordinate your balance. In fact, 20% of the nerves from your eyes interact with your vestibular system for balance.
How does Parkinson's affect balance?
Arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and other degenerative disorders can affect your balance by disrupting normal proprioception. They also interfere with motor control.
What is the third component of balance?
The third major component of balance is proprioception. That’s a fancy word for sensing the position and actions of your limbs and trunk. Close your eyes and touch your nose—that’s proprioception! Your brain gets this information from your body itself—your skin, muscles and joints.
How does stress affect the brain?
It’s possible to lose some automatic balance reflexes during periods of heightened stress. Stress and anxiety can also bring on hyperventilation, which decreases the amount of oxygen reaching the brain .
What is the best treatment for balance and coordination?
When balance and coordination problem is permanent, other mode of therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy etc will help to ease the regular life of a person. Simultaneously, supplementation of vitamins such as vitamin B12, Vitamin E and other B vitamins is useful.
What causes a person to lose balance?
Causes Of Loss Of Balance And Coordination. There are host of causes that may lead to loss of balance and coordination. It can be sudden in onset or may be chronic. The causes in general are related to the brain, particularly cerebellum part of brain which controls movement and balance of the body. Let us begin with some simple causes first.
Why does alcohol cause slurred speech?
This occurs because alcohol alters the level of chemicals in brain called neurotransmitters.
What is the common side effect of orthostatic hypotension?
Dizziness and feeling of imbalance is common in orthostatic hypotension.
What is MS in medical terms?
Multiple sclerosis (MS): It is a disease of central nervous system affecting brain and spinal cord. Lesions present in cerebellum due to this condition cause unsteady gait and loss of control over limb movement.
What is the term for a lack of communication between the brain and different parts of the body?
Loss of balance and coordination in medical terminology is called ataxia. It occurs primarily when there is a lack of communication between brain and different parts of body. Patient having this problem has to live with great difficulty in his daily life. Let us know the reasons underlying loss of balance and deterioration in coordination.
What medications cause a swollen ear?
Medications: There are several medicines that may cause this problem, especially sedatives and antipsychotic and antiepileptic medicines.
What is the term for a lack of coordination in the brain?
Cerebellum and brainstem. Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum). Ataxia describes a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects. A sign of an underlying condition, ataxia can affect various movements ...
What is the term for the loss of nerve cells in the cerebellum?
Damage, degeneration or loss of nerve cells in the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum), results in ataxia. Your cerebellum comprises two portions of folded tissue situated at the base of your brain near your brainstem. This area of the brain helps with balance as well as eye movements, swallowing and speech.
What is the name of the part of the brain that controls muscle coordination?
Open pop-up dialog box. Close. Cerebellum and brainstem. Cerebellum and brainstem. Persistent ataxia usually results from damage to the part of your brain that controls muscle coordination (cerebellum). Ataxia describes a lack of muscle control or coordination of voluntary movements, such as walking or picking up objects.
What is Friedreich's ataxia?
Friedreich's ataxia. This common hereditary ataxia involves damage to your cerebellum, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Peripheral nerves carry signals from your brain and spinal cord to your muscles. In most cases, signs and symptoms appear well before age 25.
What is the most common type of ataxia?
Episodic ataxia (EA). There are eight recognized types of ataxia that are episodic rather than progressive — EA 1 through EA 7, plus late-onset episodic ataxia. EA 1 and EA 2 are the most common. EA 1 involves brief ataxic episodes that may last seconds or minutes. The episodes are triggered by stress, being startled or sudden movement, and often are associated with muscle twitching.
How long does chickenpox ataxia last?
It might appear in the healing stages of the infection and last for days or weeks. Normally, the ataxia resolves over time.
How to treat ataxia?
Adaptive devices, such as walkers or canes, might help you maintain your independence. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and regular aerobic exercise also might help .
How do medications affect balance?
Medications can be lifesaving by performing critical tasks such as keeping blood sugar at safe levels, hearts thumping rhythmically, and moods afloat. Yet side effects and interactions between drugs (both prescription and nonprescription drugs) may increase your fall risk in numerous ways.
What are the drugs that lower blood pressure?
blood pressure drugs, such as alpha blockers, centrally acting antihypertensives, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), and beta blockers (including eye drops, which can lower blood pressure as a side effect) diabetes drugs, such as insulin, glipizide, and glyburide. heart drugs, such as anti-arrhythmics, ...
Why are older people more vulnerable to drugs?
Older adults are especially vulnerable, because people's bodies absorb and respond to drugs differently with age. While it's true that some medicines are more likely to play a role in falls than others, many of these drugs are surprisingly difficult to avoid.
Can medication affect your inner ear?
Some medications may affect the inner ear, spurring temporary or permanent balance disorders . Often, problems stem from the sheer number of medicines you take, rather than a single drug. According to a national health survey, a third of 45- to 64-year-olds and two-thirds of people 65 and older take three or more prescription drugs over ...
Is the CDC relaxed?
The CDC has relaxed some prevention measures, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated, and especially outdoors. Meanwhile, scientists continue to explore treatments and to keep an eye on viral variants. Stay Informed. View Coronavirus COVID-19 Resource Center.
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