How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Better Balance and Stability
Stand and Walk With Confidence and a Sure Step
Do you ever feel unsteady on your feet? Have you noticed it's getting harder to navigate stairs or uneven surfaces? Maybe you've even had a close call or two, and now you're worried about falling.
Feeling nervous about falling is reasonable, especially if you’re older. Falls are one of the most common causes of injury and hospitalization among older adults, although they can impact younger people, particularly if they’re recovering from surgery or injury. Furthermore, balance challenges can dramatically impact your quality of life, making it tough to stay active and independent.
At Rebound Physical Therapy, we understand your concern. However, we also want to make it clear that falls are not an inevitable part of aging! There are steps you can take to enhance your overall balance and stability, which can help keep you on your feet for years to come. Even better, you don’t have to do it alone. Our team of movement specialists is here to help.
Why Do We Need Balance and Stability?
Firstly, balance and stability aren’t the same thing, although they are connected:
- Balance is the ability to maintain your center of gravity over your base of support. Essentially, it means you can stay upright.
- Stability is the ability to resist forces that threaten to disrupt balance, such as a bump in the sidewalk or a playful nudge from a grandchild.
To reduce your risk of falls, you want to enhance both of these factors. Standing on one foot might mean you have good balance, but if you have poor stability, it won’t necessarily protect you from falling.
How Do I Know If I Need to Work on Balance and Stability?
Many factors can contribute to balance and stability problems, including the following:
- Age-related decline in muscle strength, mobility, and reaction time
- A history of falls
- Medical conditions that affect mobility, such as arthritis
- Inner ear disorders (which often cause dizziness and vertigo)
- Neurological conditions like stroke or Parkinson's disease
- Vision challenges
- Certain medications
Generally speaking, if you're experiencing symptoms like feeling unsteady or dizzy, frequent falls or near falls, difficulty walking or turning, or needing to use furniture or walls for support, reach out to Rebound Physical Therapy. We’ll help you develop a program that addresses your specific needs.
How Physical Therapy Helps Enhance Balance and Stability
Physical therapy addresses the underlying factors contributing to your balance or stability challenges. That’s why our team will also begin with a thorough evaluation to help us understand the reasons for your fall risk.
We’ll discuss your health history, evaluate your balance, strength, and movement patterns with a few simple movement screens, and learn more about your concerns. That way, we can blend various treatment techniques to create a unique, effective treatment program.
Some of these techniques might include:
Strength Training
Good core and lower body strength are essential for enhanced stability. A strong core, in particular, helps stabilize your body so you can stay on your feet.
Balance and Proprioceptive Training
This technique focuses on improving your body's awareness of its position in space. By challenging your balance with exercises on unstable surfaces or with your eyes closed, you can retrain your body to react more quickly and efficiently to changes in your environment.
Gait Training
An impaired walking pattern can affect your balance and increase your risk of falling. If necessary, we’ll help correct these impairments with personalized, targeted exercises.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
If you’re struggling with vestibular dysfunction, we’ll guide you through specific exercises that retrain your brain to understand signals from your inner ear and improve balance.
Functional Activities
We’ll teach you how to execute functional activities, like walking, turning your head while walking or standing, reaching for something on a shelf while standing, and carrying objects.
Take the First Step Towards Better Balance
Ready to take charge of your balance and regain your confidence? The Rebound Physical Therapy team is here to help you achieve your goals.
Call us today to schedule your first appointment and take the first step towards a more stable and active future.
Feeling Off-Balance? It Could Be These Vestibular Disorders
Balance challenges can develop for many reasons, including an underlying problem with your vestibular system. This is the part of your body responsible for spatial awareness and helping you maintain balance. It’s located in your cerebellum and inner ear and transmits information about your body positioning to your brain.
As you might expect, balance is one of the primary things affected when something goes wrong in your vestibular system. Fortunately, the team at Rebound Physical Therapy can help you understand your symptoms and get the relief you need.
Three Common Vestibular Disorders You Should Know
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo, a spinning sensation. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged, disrupting the function of the vestibular system. BPPV is often triggered by specific head movements, like tilting your head back or rolling over in bed.
Ménière's Disease
Ménière's disease is a chronic condition that causes fluid buildup in the inner ear. It's characterized by episodes of vertigo, often accompanied by tinnitus (ringing in the ears), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ear.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular neuritis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve, which transmits signals from the inner ear to the brain. It's often caused by a viral infection and typically results in the sudden onset of vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty with balance. Symptoms usually improve over time, but we can help speed up recovery and improve balance function.
Suspect Vestibular Dysfunction? We Can Help
If you think you may have a vestibular issue, schedule an appointment at Rebound Physical Therapy. We’ll help you understand your condition so you can find relief!
“I Have Learned a Lot of Things I Can Do at Home”
“Thanks to the wonderful staff for all of their help. I have learned a lot of things I can do at home. I will recommend Rebound to anyone in need of physical therapy.”
– Brian
Leave a ReviewNew Circuit Classes
Move • Strengthen • Feel Better
Rebound Physical Therapy is launching a guided, small-group circuit class designed to help you build strength, improve mobility, and boost endurance in a supportive environment.
What to Expect
- Build strength with guided, small-group circuits.
- Improve mobility in a supportive environment.
- Increase endurance at a pace that works for you.
- All fitness levels welcome.
Every Wednesday, 12:15 PM – 1:00 PM
Starting Wednesday, November 4
Rebound Physical Therapy
911 B Parker Street
Olathe, KS
(913) 971-0911
Call our office for details and to get signed up!
Treat Dizziness and Imbalance
Burt DeWeese, PT
Does This Sound Like You?
- Do you get dizzy or does the room start spinning when you change your head or body position?
- Do you have frequent loss of balance or occasional falls?
- Are you afraid of falling because of a few “close calls” and must hold or catch yourself when climbing stairs or walking on uneven ground?
Join Us for a Free Workshop to Learn:
- How your inner ear and balance systems work.
- The most common causes of dizziness and imbalance.
- What successful treatment and relief of symptoms look like without the side effects of medications.
- How to avoid injuries with a successful fall prevention program.
Wednesday, November 18th, 2026 @ 6:30 p.m.
Rebound Physical Therapy
5220 SW 17th Street
Topeka, KS 66604
(785) 268-6733
Call to reserve your seat today! Seating is limited. Light refreshments will be served.
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potato & Cranberry Quinoa Bowls
A cozy, make-ahead fall bowl that brings Thanksgiving flavors to a weeknight lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water or low-sodium broth
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 4 cups baby spinach or kale
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
Directions
- Heat the oven to 425°F. On a lined baking sheet, toss the sweet potatoes with 1 tbsp olive oil, the maple syrup, cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp salt.
- Roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tender and caramelized at the edges.
- Meanwhile, combine the quinoa and water or broth in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
- Toast the chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3–4 minutes, until fragrant.
- Whisk together the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and remaining 1/4 tsp salt.
- Toss the spinach with the quinoa and dressing, divide among four bowls, and top with the roasted sweet potatoes, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans.
Sweet potatoes provide slow-burning carbohydrates and potassium, quinoa offers a complete plant protein, and pecans add healthy fats – a balanced combination to support recovery and steady energy. Store the components separately in the fridge for up to four days for easy meal prep.
PAW-SIBILITIES with "Dogtor" Oliver
A Very Important Fall Reminder 🐾
Hi hoomans,
Dogtor Oliver would like to report on a very important fall reminder: sometimes the best medicine is a little gratitude… and maybe a bite or two of pumpkin pie. 🎃🐾
This season, Oliver encourages everyone to slow down and savor the little moments. His tips for making the most of the season:
- 🐾 Take time to appreciate the good things.
- 🐾 Be kind—it always makes a difference.
- 🐾 Enjoy the company of your favorite hoomans.
- 🐾 Savor the little moments (and the tasty ones!).
- 🐾 And if pumpkin pie happens to be nearby, don’t be afraid to share.
Life is better with a little sweetness, a lot of gratitude, and plenty of pawsitivity. Dogtor Oliver approves!
Stay thankful, stay pawsitive, and remember: there’s always something to be grateful for.
– Dogtor Oliver 🐾
From all of us at Rebound Physical Therapy, we’re wishing you and your family a happy and healthy Thanksgiving. We’re thankful for the opportunity to be part of your care and for the community that makes our work so meaningful in Olathe, Topeka, and beyond.