She explained how balance works and, if it doesn’t function properly, what symptoms you might experience. Josine also discussed what you can do about it. In this article, we provide a summary of the information shared during this presentation.
What is balance?
The vestibular system is a part of the body connected to the auditory system. The cochlea is the part of the ear that allows us to hear. Attached directly to it is the vestibular system, which helps us maintain our balance. The vestibular organs in both of our ears provide the brain with information about movement and spatial orientation. The vestibular system has several components: the part closest to the cochlea is the part that senses gravity. This is called vertical orientation. It allows you to sense whether you are lying down, sitting, or standing. The other part located within the vestibular organs is what we use to sense linear movements. Am I moving forward or backward, and how fast? Or am I standing still? Each ear has a vestibular system, and together both ears send signals to the brain, which must interpret these as information about movement. The final function of the vestibular system is visual stabilization. This allows you to keep the image on your retina stable while you’re moving. Visual stabilization is perhaps the most important function of the vestibular system. If visual stabilization doesn’t work properly, you’re more likely to lose your balance and, as a result, fall more often.
Senses and Balance
Hearing, vision, and balance work together. They send information to the brain. If one or more of these senses isn’t working properly, it becomes increasingly difficult for the brain to maintain your balance. It also becomes difficult to avoid feeling dizzy when you move. Some people will recognize that if you have trouble seeing, you lose your balance more quickly. Your brain has to work harder to keep you from falling over. That’s incredibly tiring. Moving images can make you feel nauseous and sometimes cause you to vomit. This is due to the connection between the vestibular system and the stomach.
Getting Started with the Vestibular System
When a person’s hearing or vision is impaired, the vestibular system becomes even more important. If the vestibular system is also impaired, you may experience even more symptoms. Training the vestibular system yourself through sports, exercise, and physical therapy exercises can help reduce these symptoms. There is also a balance belt. The belt has small vibrating devices that start to vibrate when you’re about to lose your balance.
