What effect does Age have on your body?
Dizziness is often the most common reason for an adult over the age of 65 to visit their doctor or to be hospitalised.
Due to a natural process of aging, people will experience many physical changes that may result in:
- Decreased muscle strength
- Decreased reflexes
- Decreased vision
- Decreased hearing
- Decreased vestibular function (inner ear)
- Injury from falls
- Pain from arthritis
- Associated conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease etc.
These conditions are known to cause dizziness and balance problems in adults over 65 years.
Common Causes of Dizziness and Imbalance
One or more of the following may affect your balance:
There may be others that are not listed here.
- Inner ear problems e.g. BPPV, vestibular hypofunction
- Poor posture, decreased strength, flexibility and endurance
- Medication side effects
- Postural hypotension
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Pain and arthritis
- Diabetes
- Brain disorders e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease, migraines
- Cardiac conditions.
Treatment options for Dizziness related to Aging
The dizziness that you get can be a big contributing factor to falls, particularly in people over 65 years old. Symptoms may persist or get worse if treatment is not considered.
Most dizziness and balance disorders can be treated and improved. Therapists can perform assessments that are designed to determine if there is an inner ear problem (i.e. vestibular problem), a brain disorder or perhaps decreased strength and endurance due to inactivity.
Therapists can also customise a treatment program focused on balance retraining and symptom reduction depending on your clinical presentation. Symptoms may not disappear with everyone who is treated, but will usually improve to allow a return to daily activities.