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What are Balance Problems?
Here’s how your body keeps its balance:
- Vision System: Your eyes keep track of your surroundings to let your brain know where your body is in space.
- Vestibular System: It is located in your inner ear and detects head movements and position changes through the semicircular canals.
- Muscle, Joints, and Tendons: These provide signals to your brain about the position and tension in your body parts.
- Central Nervous System: Your brain processes all of this information and sends signals back to your muscles and eyes to adjust posture and keep you balanced.
Balance problems or balance disorders occur when this process is disrupted. Your body has trouble staying coordinated and steady, and this makes you feel dizzy. Recognizing and addressing these balance problems early can help prevent accidents and improve your day-to-day confidence.
Balance Problem Symptoms
Symptoms of balance problems can vary depending on the cause. However, you might experience the following:
- Vertigo, a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning when you are still
- Lightheadedness or fainting
- Feeling unsteady or off-balance
- Blurred vision or difficulty focusing
- Feeling like you might fall
- Confusion or disorientation
- Nausea or vomiting following dizziness or vertigo
Other symptoms may include fear, panic, changes in blood pressure and heart rate. These symptoms may last long or appear only for a brief time.
Balance Problems Causes:
Balance disorders can stem from a variety of causes. In older adults, balance problems are likely to occur due to natural physical changes with advancing age.
Some of the common causes of balance problems include:
1. Inner Ear Disorders
The vestibular system in your inner ear plays an important role in maintaining balance. Conditions that affect this structure can cause loss of balance control. Some of them include:
Acoustic Neuroma
It is a benign tumor that develops on the vestibulocochlear nerve responsible for hearing and balance. It causes symptoms like dizziness and hearing loss.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
It is an inner ear disorder that causes brief episodes of dizziness or vertigo. These episodes are usually triggered by changes in head position, such as rolling over in bed.
Meniere’s Disease
It changes the volume of fluid in your ear. This, in turn, affects the balance and hearing signals and causes symptoms, such as ringing in the ear, dizziness, vertigo and hearing loss.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular neuritis results from the inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which is responsible for balance and coordination. It causes dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, nausea and vomiting.
Labyrinthitis
It causes inflammation of the labyrinth, an important part of the ear responsible for hearing and balance. As a result, it irritates the vestibular and auditory nerves and causes vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness and tinnitus.
2. Vision Problems
Clear eyesight is important for balance. Eye problems, such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma or cataract, reduce your brain’s ability to sense your position relative to your surroundings. This increases the risk of imbalance.
3. Neurological Disorder
Conditions, such as Parkinson’s Disease or multiple sclerosis, can affect your movement and coordination. Furthermore, damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord can affect your brain’s ability to sense body position, thus causing an imbalance.
4. Head injuries
Injury or trauma to the head, such as a concussion, can affect your brain’s ability to interpret sensory information. As a result, it can impair your balance, leading to symptoms like dizziness and fainting.
Balance Problems Diagnosis
Balance problems are difficult to diagnose as they may be caused by multiple factors. Your physician might review your medical history and ask about your symptoms.
In some cases, your healthcare provider might refer you to an ENT specialist. He may order the following tests to find the cause of balance problems.
1. Blood Tests
Your doctor may run blood tests to check if you have anemia, electrolyte imbalances, or low blood sugar levels. All of these conditions can lead to dizziness, fainting, and unsteadiness.
2. Hearing Tests
Hearing tests will determine if hearing loss is contributing to your balance and coordination.
3. Vestibular Tests
Your healthcare provider will assess the function of your inner ear and identify the problem causing balance issues through assessments like caloric testing.
4. Imaging Tests:
MRI or CT scans can show the image of your brain and inner ear structures. This can help pinpoint any structural abnormalities contributing to the balance problems.
Videonystagmography
It tests your vestibular system by tracking your eye movements using cameras. This helps detect any abnormal eye movements as you track targets or move your head and body.
Balance Problems Treatment
The treatment of balance problems depends on the underlying cause. Your doctor may recommend medications, physical therapy, surgery or dietary changes depending upon your situation.
1. Medications
The dizziness or vertigo you experience may be a side effect of your medicines. Your doctor will review these medications. He may adjust your dose or change the medication.
Further, he might recommend some antibiotics if he suspects an ear infection. He may also prescribe corticosteroids, migraine medicines, and antiemetics for inflammation, dizziness and vomiting.
2. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
It is a form of physical therapy that helps stabilize your vestibular system. It improves your equilibrium and relieves symptoms, such as dizziness and vertigo.
3. Dietary Changes
Changing your diet might help reduce your symptoms if they are related to disorders like Meniere’s disease or migraine. Try to take a diet low in sodium, as it helps decrease fluid retention in the body, which can decrease pressure buildup in the ear. Further, staying well-hydrated and eating a healthy diet is important for maintaining your balance.
4. Surgery
For severe cases, surgical or special procedures, such as canalith repositioning, may be required to treat inner ear balance problems.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help People With Balance Problems?
Chiropractic care is an effective approach for maintaining balance. It helps balance problems by addressing issues within the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
Misalignments in the spine, known as vertebral subluxation, can disrupt nerve signals and communication between your brain and body. As a result, it can keep you off balance. Chiropractors perform spinal manipulation to realign the spine. This relieves pressure on surrounding nerves and improves the communication between the brain and body. As a result, improved nerve function and communication reduce symptoms like dizziness and vertigo.
Further, chiropractic adjustments in the upper cervical spine can improve vestibular function. Your chiropractor may also perform techniques, like the Epley maneuver, that reposition the displaced crystals back into the correct area of your inner ear. This is especially effective for people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Chiropractic care also includes soft tissue therapy and some exercises that strengthen your muscles and joints. This, in turn, supports coordinated movements.
At Vitality Chiropractic Center in Singapore, our experts specialize in Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care. By precise and gentle adjustments, we aim to restore spine alignment, improve nerve function, and promote overall well-being. Our team provides personalized treatment tailored to your needs. So what are you waiting for? Contact us right now to restore your balance!
References:
- Agrawal, Y., Carey, J. P., Della Santina, C. C., Schubert, M. C., & Minor, L. B. (2009). Disorders of balance and vestibular function in US adults. Archives of Internal Medicine, 169(10), 938. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.66
- Balance disorders. (2018, March 6). NIDCD. https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance-disorders
Call 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com today!
Meet Our Chiropractor Specializing in Balance Problems Care in Singapore
Dr Shaan (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from London (UK) who graduated from the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). He has completed post-graduate studies and has been serving patients in Singapore since 2015.
He founded Vitality Chiropractic Centres to open the first Upper Cervical clinic in Singapore, and the only practicing Knee Chest Upper Cervical Technique in South East Asia.
He is the Alliance of Chiropractic (AoC) Chairman for Outreach, organising events within Singapore with the People’s Association and other charities. Shaan has served thousands of patients, with experience in patients with headaches, migraines, vertigo, Meniere’s, trigeminal neuralgia, whiplash, IBS and other chronic nervous system problems.
Dr Jessey (黄钰心矫正师) (Traditional and Complimentary Therapy Qualification) is a Chiropractor from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), graduated from Anglo-European College of Chiropractic (UK) as a Doctor of Chiropractic (not medical doctor or dentist). She has experience serving patients from 2 weeks old to 96 years old prior to moving to Singapore and joining Vitality Chiropractic (活力脊椎矫正中心).
She has completed post-graduate studies and is Singapore’s first female Upper Cervical Chiropractor (上颈椎矫正护理).
Jessey is active in outreach, participating in charitable trips to Cambodia and within Singapore. Jessey has experience helping patients with headaches, migraines, dizziness (眩晕/头晕), Meniere’s (美尼尔氏综合症), slipped disc, anxiety, fibrillations, IBS and other chronic nerve system problems. She also has a special interest in children and younger patients.
If you’ve been struggling with Balance Problem, call 8438 9550, email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com or fill in your information below to book your appointment.
Chiropractic Care for Balance Problems – Treatment Rates in Singapore
Here are the expected rates for Balance Problem care services at Vitality Chiropractic centres.
Discovery Call
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Jump on a call to discuss your concerns and determine if we are the right fit for you.
Consultation
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During the initial consultation, we will run a physical examination, postural assessment, and nerve system test.
Test Results
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Our chiropractor will explain the findings and test results from the consultation. A customised care plan will then be developed for you.
Single Session
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We will perform a nerve scan and adjustment as needed. Re-examinations and rehab exercises might be implemented.
Written by
Shaan Rai (Chiropractor, Singapore)
Shaan is a British Chiropractor, based in Singapore. He is an Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) registered Singapore Chiropractor, completing a 5 year course at AECC (UK), attaining his Masters in Chiropractic. He is the Vice President and Chairman for Outreach & Charity for Alliance of Chiropractic (AOC) and is the founder of Vitality Chiropractic Singapore. He developed the NeuroPro method, combining Upper Cervical techniques with Functional Neurology Rehab, with published research coming in 2025.
Dizziness Research in Singapore
Read our case report about our patient with dizziness and hearing loss, and the improvements seen with our care. This was produced by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, and published in the Asia-Pacific Chiropractic Journal.
Read Our Book
Shaan authored the book, ‘Dealing With Dizziness – Holistic Solutions For Unexplained Chronic Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Problems’.
You can find it on Amazon, or available in our Singapore Chiropractic clinic.
FAQS
Chiropractors are trained doctors of Chiropractic. They train exclusively as doctors of Chiropractic, not as medical doctors or dentists.
This is the same as how a Dentist, TCM or PhD graduate are trained as doctors in their field, but are also not medical doctors.
If you have any previous scans, x-rays, MRI’s or other imaging, please bring them to your appointment. We would also recommend bringing a family member or friend if you need support or to discuss finances.
Your initial Consultation will take approximately 1 hour, your Results will take approximately 45 minutes and follow up Appointments will take 20-35 minutes depending on your case.
After Chiropractic adjustments there can occasionally be side effects. The most common feelings after corrections (especially in the beginning) are:
- No changes yet
- Some stiffness in the muscles or light soreness
- Feeling relief
If there are any other symptoms or sensations experienced, please ensure to consult with your Chiropractor.
Absolutely! If you book using our online system you should get an email immediately then a WhatsApp confirmation from our staff.
For follow up appointments you should receive an email 48 hours before your appointment. If you do not, and you would like reminders, please let us know and we will be able to help. If you receive reminders but do not want to, you can also opt out of these emeails.
On any day you receive an adjustment we would advise taking it easy and drinking plenty of water. Give it at least 2 hours before exercising. If you feel tired then listen to your body and get to sleep early. Upon starting care, we will share a guide for you to take home, with a long list of do’s and don’ts, so you can take an active part in your care.
We recommend wearing something comfortable that you can bend in. While you don’t need to wear gym clothes, clothes which you can move in freely will be helpful for any tests or techniques the doctor will need to perform. For women, if you are wearing a dress or skirt we will provide blankets to cover you.
Chiropractic, and any health approach, will not be the answer for every patient and every health concern. Other Chiropractors may use different techniques and methods which may not produce the same results as Upper Cervical Chiropractic.
Our Chiropractors conduct a thorough history, physical assessment, nerve scans and biomechanical x-rays to determine if this is a case they can help.
If we are not the right fit for you, we will do our best to find the right practitioner for you.
Need Help With Balance Problems? Contact Our Singapore Chiropractic Team Today
Fill in your details below or contact 8438 9550 and we will help you to schedule a Complimentary, no-obligation call with the best Chiropractor in Singapore to discuss your case.
Our Banalance Problem specialist in Singapore can help.