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Has anyone ever had PT at a Balance Center?

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    Has anyone ever had PT at a Balance Center?

    This concept is completely new to me, but thought I'd pass on the info, since it's been so helpful.

    My MS neuro recently left his practice, and then his NP left, so I decided to transfer to a neuro a little closer to my home. He is not an MS specialist, but said he sends his MS patients (if they have trouble with balance) to a PT center that specifically deals with balance and gait, it's called a Balance Center.

    Oh my goodness...am I impressed. To begin with, it's not the normal kind of PT who puts me on a bike for the first 10 minutes I'm there (completely wasting all my energy before we even begin )

    At this center, for lack of the accurate name of the machine, they have what I call a "balance meter." It simulates different types of surfaces, along with different placement of the feet, tests balance using your eyes, and not using your eyes (i.e. closing your eyes.), tests on the squishy surface are supposed to simulate not being able to rely on input from your feet. And then with each test, a chart is produced, showing what happened. The amazing thing is these charts were able to verify what I've know for years, in order to maintain my balance, I compensate by leaning left and bending my right arm at the elbow.

    Also did lots of tests with her monitoring me walking and changing the commands as I was walking, to see how my gait changed, i.e. move your head to the left, look up (that one I miseerably failed), walk as fast as you can, walk normal, walk slow...all the time she has her hand on me to feel the difference, plus they video it and show you how you look.

    Once they've accummulated all the data they go about suggesting specific exercises, and "homework" to help deal with issues of gait and balance. I have no arm swing on either side, so I'm supposed to "fake" it by practicing forcing my arms to swing. It does involve paying attention, much like I have to pay attention when I walk...I constantly and telling myself "Heel, toe, heel, toe."
    Now I'm adding "swing right arm with left leg, etc." I'm going to be tired from just "thinking" about walking. I'm supposed to walk in 5 minute segments, but there again, they tune into the MS, and add if possible. Due to weakness, not possible, so I break it up into 3 minute segments, just more times a day.

    Also interesting note that MS patients have already learned a lot of the strategies they teach, by trial and error, and what feels right. Sudden onset balance issues patients, i.e. from a stroke, etc. come to them and she said she has to teach them strategies that MSers have evidently learned on their own.

    Along the way (I'm going for 8 visits) they'll retest to see if my balance is improving. Also had me bring a couple different types of shoes and test wearing the different shoes to see how my balance reacts.

    I'm just so impressed with the merging of the technology with the "plan"...I hope to learn a lot about my balance issues to help prevent falls.

    #2
    Hi rdmc,
    How are you doing?

    A few years ago when I was still mobile and my balance was getting tough, I went to our local hospital for PT and they used a balance machine and monitored my walking too.

    It was very interesting to find how much I relied on my vision for balance.

    They used the machine for stroke patients often.

    Sounds like your center may take it further with the videos but maybe the need wasn't there for me at that time.

    We had also did a lot of work on the parallel bars standing on different surfaces to try to help me adapt my balance.

    Sounds like this can be great for you. Having them help with identifying the best shoes alone sounds beneficial.

    How are you doing with your pump ?
    I go for my refill next week, last refill we lowered 20% and have been ok with that. Am trying to see if I can gain some upper body strength with lowering where my legs are still good. Not sure if lowering more or not - should be interesting.

    Hope all is well and the balance center continues to help.

    Comment


      #3
      Hi!
      Wow rdmc, that center sounds amazing! There are several PT clinics that have various devices available for balance, some more sophisticated than others. It's often about population, financial ability to provide such equipment, and so on.

      Definitely worth spreading the word about it, the more people can get educated, the better. People can change their therapy location if they find services are available elsewhere that better suits their needs - while keeping the physician informed.

      Thank you both for sharing
      Be Well,
      Susan

      Comment


        #4
        The Center sounds great, rdmc!

        I also had a balance evaluation last time I had PT and they used what you described as the "balance meter". They also encouraged me to swing my arms while walking, but the problem with that is when one uses a cane, the full swing can't play out to the fullest.

        I started using trekking poles and that was the ticket. I'm getting much more swinging action while I walk.

        Hope this works out well for you!
        1st sx '89 Dx '99 w/RRMS - SP since 2010
        Administrator Message Boards/Moderator

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by bluegiraffe View Post
          Hi rdmc,


          How are you doing with your pump ?
          I go for my refill next week, last refill we lowered 20% and have been ok with that. Am trying to see if I can gain some upper body strength with lowering where my legs are still good. Not sure if lowering more or not - should be interesting.

          Hope all is well and the balance center continues to help.
          This center has those parallel bars, and they
          have you position your feet a certain way and try to balance, the bars. So did you get some upper body relief when the downed the pump. I had some slight relief from
          spasticity in my left arm when I got the pump, so I know it can affect the upper body strength, and my catheter is at T9.

          My pump is doing well, had it refilled a few weeks ago (those physiatrist are amazing at finding the port, I'm always impressed), and I'm up to about 150 mcg. I didn't have to go in for an adjustment between the last two refills, but now with the heat, I seem to need more adjustments. I still feel the spasticity some especially in the PT sessions where I'm constantly doing things for 30-45 minutes The PT give me rest periods in between and that helps.

          I'm the "star" patient at the balance center, and the PT was saying how well I could move, but then I showed her how I used to walk pre-pump, and how my feet would not lift, nor my right leg go ahead of my left and she was amazed. She'd never dealt with anybody with a pump before. So I let her feel it (having a pump is sort of like being pregnant, people want to touch your belly.)

          My latest and greatest MS gift is going to be a CPAP machine. I test drove it last night at the sleep lab. Not bad at all.

          Let me know if you notice a difference in your upper body strength.

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by SusanD View Post
            Hi!
            Wow rdmc, that center sounds amazing! There are several PT clinics that have various devices available for balance, some more sophisticated than others. It's often about population, financial ability to provide such equipment, and so on.

            Definitely worth spreading the word about it, the more people can get educated, the better. People can change their therapy location if they find services are available elsewhere that better suits their needs - while keeping the physician informed.

            Thank you both for sharing
            I see your point. This one is connected with a local hospital, and we live in an area with an elderly population (which I contributing to now that I hit the big 6-0). Anyhoo, there are many stroke victims in the area, I'd imagine. And elderly folks, in general, have more problems with balance and falling. So it would make perfect sense to have one in our area...but I googled it, and I think it's the only one that deals with just Balance and Gait we have.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Seasha View Post
              The Center sounds great, rdmc!

              I also had a balance evaluation last time I had PT and they used what you described as the "balance meter". They also encouraged me to swing my arms while walking, but the problem with that is when one uses a cane, the full swing can't play out to the fullest.

              I started using trekking poles and that was the ticket. I'm getting much more swinging action while I walk.

              Hope this works out well for you!
              Yep, kind of hard to swing with a cane. Trekking poles sound like a great idea. We have folks in our neighborhood that use them as part of their workout when they're walking. Evidently you burn more calories when walking with the poles. I do most of my walking in the house....too darn hot in Florida to venture I, but I do laps around the house.

              Thanks for mentioning the poles.

              Comment


                #8
                Hi rdmc ,

                Yeah I know what you mean about physiatrist finding the port. For my first couple of refills I went to my neurosurgeon whose office is very close to our house and I hard a surgery follow-up with him. He tried many times before getting it - to where I was close to passing out - it didn't hurt at all but I am a mental wimp and it was warm. Next time I went to my physiatrist and every time he gets in the first try it is impressive to me too. He told me there is a small raised area he presses to find the location.

                I was at 140mcg for quite some time and was convinced when I felt improved upper body strength and balance that it was due to weakened baclofen as I was overdue for a refill. This of solely my hyphothesis . So after our experiment of refilling and leaving the dose at 140 to see if I lost the new found improvement -I did go back to prior upper body weakness and he lowered to 112 (20%). Surprisingly my legs have been ok with that but upper body improvement has not come back. So now again overdue for refill (with hope I would confirm improvement again - with no success). It sure was apparent when I felt it and very noticeable to both me and mt PT. oh we'll I think my physiatrist didn't really buy in my rational but was willing to give it a try. Now I'm not sure if will leave at 112 or suggest lower week.

                I plan to ask re: vertebrae location as I don't know and should.

                I goggled CPAP machine, never knew about - it helps airflow passage for better sleep ? I've heard of the mask to wear for sleep apnea before.

                Good to hear the balance program is working well for you. Keep moving and happy belated birthday !

                Comment


                  #9
                  I start balance PT in a couple of weeks. I'm not diagnosed yet but have been told I'm very close. My balance is awful since my symptoms started 11 months ago. I can't stand upright with my eyes closed if my life depended on it. Thanks for the post. I'm excited to see if they can help me. I fall over occasionally but haven't had to use a cane in 7-8 months.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    The answer to your question is yes. I have my own private physical therapist: my son. He is doing his internship in PT school and knows all of the latest procedures.

                    I am very proud of him but sometimes it's tiring going through all of the drills. I'm glad it is helping you.

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