Blog

A 72-year-old patient comes to see you because she continues to feel unsteady despite recovering well from a vestibular disorder. Her vestibular examination is improving. Her strength is good. She walks reasonably well in the clinic.

But she tells you something interesting:

“I feel much worse in the grocery store, when I turn my head while walking, and especially when I look down going downstairs.”

We often think about the vestibular, neurological and musculoskeletal reasons for these symptoms. But there is another question worth asking:

What type of glasses is she wearing?

For patients experiencing dizziness, imbalance or motion sensitivity, progressive lenses may be an overlooked fact...

Maintaining mobility and activity levels in patients with balance issues is essential for their overall well-being. Falls are a leading cause of losing independence in older adults, making fall prevention a key priority. As healthcare providers, we must balance the need to reduce fall risks with keeping patients active. This is where ambulatory aids like walking, Nordic, and trekking poles can make a significant difference. In this post, we’ll review the benefits, differences, and sizing of these poles, and how to determine which is the best option for your patients.

1) Walking Poles: Stability and Confidence on the Go

Designed to provide stability, they can help patients maintain balance ...

A few months ago we reviewed how gait speed is not only a great test to measure mobility, but why it should also be considered a vital sign (link). But have you ever wondered about assessing your patient’s ability to walk backwards? This is a more complex task needed for tasks such as backing up to a chair, opening a door, or avoiding a sudden obstacle. Or,  have you ever wondered if there was a standardized testing protocol for backwards walking with normative data? 

The study by Carter in 2017, called “The 3m Backwards Walk & Retrospective Falls: Diagnostic Accuracy of a Novel Clinical Measure” looked at walking backwards and falls. The study reviews:

1. How relevant fall prevention is as
...