Balance and Gait Training at OrthoRehab Specialists
Balance depends on three systems working together: your vision, the vestibular system in the inner ear that senses movement and orientation, and the proprioceptive system of muscles and joints that tells your brain where your body is in space. Walking, which seems automatic, requires the same precise coordination between muscles, joints, and the nervous system. When injury, surgery, a neurological condition, or aging disrupts any part of that system, the result is unsteadiness, dizziness, an altered walking pattern, and a higher risk of falling. Our Edina and Minneapolis clinics offer specialized balance and gait programs that improve safety and independence for patients from athletes to older adults.
Who Balance and Gait Training Helps
- Adults who have noticed their balance is not what it used to be, or who have already had a fall
- Vertigo, dizziness, and other vestibular disorders
- Recovery after concussion
- Neurological conditions including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and peripheral neuropathy
- Orthopedic recovery after ankle sprains, ACL reconstruction, hip or knee replacement, and lower-body fractures
- Gait dysfunctions such as limping, shuffling, dragging a foot, or uneven stride that stress the feet, ankles, knees, hips, and spine
- Athletes who want to improve single-leg stability and reduce injury risk
Falls are the leading cause of hospitalization among Americans over 65, and an underlying balance problem is often at the heart of a serious fall. If you have a parent or grandparent with noticeable balance or mobility changes, do not ignore it; balance responds well to training at any age.
How We Assess Balance and Gait
Your evaluation starts with a review of your history, medications, and any falls or near-falls, followed by hands-on testing of strength, range of motion, sensation, and reaction. We then measure balance objectively. Our clinics use the HUMAC Interactive Balance force plate, which tracks your center of pressure during single-leg stance, tandem stance, and dynamic shifting tasks and displays the results on a screen in real time. This data reveals subtle deficits that a traditional assessment can miss, establishes a baseline, and quantifies weight-bearing asymmetry and fall risk. For walking, we analyze your stride, cadence, foot placement, and how your hips, knees, and ankles work together, using video when helpful.
What Your Program Includes
From the assessment your therapist builds a progression tailored to your deficits and goals. Treatment may include:
- Static and dynamic balance drills that progress from stable to unstable surfaces and from eyes open to eyes closed
- Interactive force-plate training with game-like exercises that challenge coordination and postural control in different planes of motion
- Strengthening of the hips, legs, ankles, and core that hold you upright
- Gait retraining with cueing, cadence work, and practice on stairs, ramps, and uneven ground
- Vestibular therapy for dizziness and vertigo, including repositioning maneuvers and habituation exercises when appropriate
- Dual-task activities that simulate real-world situations such as walking while turning your head or carrying an object
- Home safety and fall-prevention education, plus a home exercise program you can do safely on your own
Progress is re-measured on the force plate so you can see improvement in numbers, not just feel it. Balance and gait training pairs naturally with our functional testing, manual therapy, and orthotics and bracing services when foot mechanics are part of the problem.
Why Choose OrthoRehab Specialists
We are a therapist-owned practice with clinics in Edina and Minneapolis. Every session is one-on-one with your therapist, which matters when the work involves challenging your balance safely. To meet the team, visit our About Us page. For more reading, see our articles on improving balance and reducing fall risk, what gait training is, and vestibular therapy for dizziness and vertigo.
Make an Appointment
Under Minnesota’s direct access law you may not need a physician referral to begin, and we accept most major insurance plans, including Medicare. Call our Edina clinic at 952-922-0330, our Minneapolis clinic at 612-339-2041, or use the form on our Contact Us page to schedule a balance and gait evaluation.