The Benefits of Strength Training For Gait and Balance

Apr 10, 2024

Physical Therapy, Balance Disorder

How strength training improves balance and what you can learn from physical therapy

Have you struggled with gait or balance from an underlying condition? Maybe you don’t have a medical diagnosis but have been experiencing dizziness or difficulty walking. Balance is required to do almost everything, including walking, getting out of bed, and exercising. For these daily activities, having strong muscles and maintaining balance are crucial.

Exercises for balance training include strengthening your legs and core, two key areas that are important for maintaining your balance. During physical therapy, your specialist will help you increase stability and assist in preventing falls. Independent exercises for balance can be easily adjusted to your skill levels, such as cardio, yoga, and weight lifting.

At McCabe and Brady Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are movement experts who provide results-driven treatment plans. With our strength training exercises, you’ll notice your balance improving in no time.

To set up an appointment, call us today!

Why do people have gait and balance problems?

Gait is the term used to describe a person’s walking pattern. A person with a gait issue may experience dizziness, vertigo, and even motion sickness. Balance disorders present similar symptoms, such as tightness, spasms, weakness in the muscles, weakness on the side of the body, and numb feet.

There are several causes of gait and balance disorders, including:

Musculoskeletal injuries, such as bone fractures and sprains
Vision issues
Natural aging process
Problems with the feet, such as calluses
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Arthritis and other degenerative bone diseases
Stroke

Most gait and balance abnormalities have a variety of underlying reasons. Most gait changes are caused by underlying medical issues rather than being an unavoidable result of aging. During physical therapy, your specialist will assess your condition, symptoms, and other contributing factors to determine a treatment plan that will work best for you.

Evidence supporting strength training as a treatment for gait and balance

Studies show that programs for aerobic exercise have historically been utilized to improve patients’ health status and reverse the effects of gait and balance. This has been demonstrated to enhance functional activities, lower hypertension, restore muscle strength, and increase physical performance.

Strengthening exercises have also decreased the risk of falls and other injuries and enhanced cognitive function. Resistance training has been found to increase functional capacity when combined with aerobic exercise. Relevant studies report that patients have found success through resistance and strength training which not only results in better balance but diminishes pain and related symptoms.

Gait Training Exercises In Physical Therapy

You might be having trouble walking normally if you’ve undergone surgery or an injury to your lower extremities. In physical therapy, walking is referred to as “gait.” PT treatment and resistance training may be recommended if you have gait issues.

During recovery, your physical therapist will use a gait training program to help you walk more naturally.

Gait training can help:

Strengthen your muscles and joints
Improve your posture and balance
Train muscle memory
Build your endurance
Decreases your risk for injury

Gait training exercises target your lower limb joints’ range of motion, strength, and balance while simulating the repetitive movements of your legs that take place as you walk.

Strength Training Exercises In Physical Therapy

Our physical therapists at McCabe and Brady Physical Therapy are trained to help patients improve balance and gait disorders without the need for medication or other medical interventions. Your specialist will provide exercises that are specific to the cause of your condition and the symptoms you present. These will include:

Balance systems
Equipment/modalities
Gait and postural correction
Fall prevention
Patient Education
Instruction for at-home exercises

More specific exercises that you will likely learn during therapy include:

Single Leg Stance
Resistance Stretching
Isometric Exercise
Core Strengthening Exercises
Tandem Walking

Your physical therapist may also use equipment such as yoga blocks or a balance board.

Request an appointment with us today!

If you’ve had symptoms of gait and balance disorders, you can rely on our team at McCabe and Brady Physical Therapy to help. Our experienced therapists use an evidence-based approach to improve our patients’ functions and reduce their pain.

Start feeling better as soon as your first appointment! Schedule a consultation with us today.

The Benefits of Strength Training For Gait and Balance