There are thousands of self-help books about “finding balance”. Most talk about taking time for yourself, spending quality time unplugged, and finding your inner peace.
But what if those self-help books were written for people that were literally looking for better balance? Not the work-life balance, but the kind of balance you use to walk, stand up and run.
That kind of self-help book would probably look something like this.
1. Your relationship with balance: It’s complicated.
Balance is a natural dance between systems in your body.
Your inner ear is filled with fluid that sends signals to your brain that help you remain upright. Your muscles are constantly contracting and relaxing to help you sit up, stand, walk, and bend over. (Not to mention the balance required to dance, stand on one foot, balance a book on your head and the thousands of other things your body can do.)
At the same time, your brain is constantly sending and receiving signals to and from your muscles and nerves and making tiny unconscious adjustments. There are millions of adjustments required to keep you upright which involve multiple systems. It’s no wonder that a problem with one part of your body – whether it’s your brain, inner ear, nervous system, muscles, or joint pain – can cause a ripple effect that impacts your balance.
2. You need to take time for yourself (to uncover the underlying cause).
Balance problems are rarely as simple as they appear. If walking worsens your knee pain, you will quickly lose your sense of having a sure foundation. If your lower back aches when you stand, you probably change your posture to accommodate it. Once you take time to uncover the underlying cause of your balance issues, you can begin to address them.
3. Acknowledge your past trauma.
Even if you don’t recall injuring your feet, knees, hips, or lower back, old injuries tend to rear their ugly heads as you get older. If you played sports in high school or had an accident in your 20’s and are nearing an age where you can claim a senior discount at the movie theater, prior injuries may be playing a role in your loss of balance.
4. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could magically fix a balance issue with a simple, one-size-fits-all solution?
Given how complicated balance is in the body, it’s no wonder physicians suggest everything from medication to surgery to fix balance problems. Fortunately, there are as many options for improving balance as there are people who experience balance problems. Even better, the most effective treatment solutions don’t involve invasive surgeries or prolonged recoveries.
- Chiropractic care – Your balance begins and ends in your brain and spinal cord. If you are experiencing vertigo or dizziness that impacts your balance, chiropractic adjustments removing interference with your nerves can dramatically improve how sure-footed you are. Chiropractic care, including therapies like Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy and Spinal Decompression can even help heal old injuries that may be affecting how you walk, stand, or otherwise live your life.
- Stem cell injections – Gone are the days when the only cure for chronic knee pain and arthritis was a total knee replacement. Stem cell injections are minimally invasive, FDA approved, and scientifically proven to help restore lost tissue in the knee. Patients report dramatic improvements in their pain levels as well as their balance.
It’s up to you to take the first step.
If you’re curious about how Sandstone Chiropractic can help you regain your sense of balance, both literally and figuratively, give us a call or schedule your comprehensive exam with x-rays online.
