Being able to stand and walk without stumbling may be something you do without a second thought, but for someone with a balance problem, those activities can be difficult. Balance issues can typically develop in the wake of a car accident. Today, we explain how your body maintains its balance, and how it can get thrown out of whack after a serious car crash.
Balance and Brain Injuries
Your eyes, joints, nerves, muscles and vestibular organs in your inner ear all help you maintain balance by sending signals to your brain, so it’s no surprise your balance can be affected if any of these areas are impacted by a car accident.
One of the more common reasons someone experiences balance issues is because they suffered a traumatic brain injury. In fact, between 30 and 65 percent of people with a TBI suffer from some sort of balance issue. Some symptoms in the wake of a TBI include:
- Dizziness
- Disequilibrium
- Lightheadedness
- Vertigo
- Imbalance
As we’ve mentioned before, traumatic brain injuries come in many forms. There are closed head injuries, penetrating head injuries, as well as primary and secondary injuries. All of these injuries can cause different problems, like misfiring neurons, chemical imbalances, damaged nerves or ocular issues, which can all throw off your balance.
That said, balance issues aren’t just limited to your brain. For example, if you are in a serious motorcycle accident, you might suffer a spine injury or leg fracture, all of which can impact your balance.
Treating Balance Problems After A Car Accident
Treating your balance problem obviously depends on the issue causing the problem. If a head injury like a concussion is causing balance issues, your doctor may recommend a good dose of rest and relaxation. Other injuries may require physical therapy, balance conditioning and medications, while more severe physical injuries may require surgery.
The best way to treat your balance issues after a car accident are to swing into the doctor’s office, especially if you think you’ve experienced a head injury. Your doctor can preform a series of tests that will uncover your balance issues and develop a treatment plan.