Neurologically related balance and/or mobility deficits affecting:

• Your tolerance for sitting, standing, walking
• Your ability to safely get into and around your house and perform usual duties
• Increasing difficulty completing previously doable functional tasks
• Quality of life

J&H is able to treat a variety of Neurological Disorders affecting mobility including, but not limited to:

• Stroke/Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Concussion
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)
• Spina Bifida
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
• Genetic Disorders

VESTIBULAR RELATED DIZZINESS AND BALANCE DISTURBANCE

Physical Therapists at Johnson & Hayes™ Dizziness and Balance Program begin by taking a careful history of how and when your dizziness started, what your dizziness feels like and what makes it worse. Therapists will systematically assess your vision, assess your standing balance and your walking balance, will determine if you have displaced ‘crystals’ in your inner ear on one side and will look for a pattern for your dizziness.

Once the assessment is complete, your therapist will give you possible explanations for your pattern of dizziness. Therapists will propose a specific plan of physical therapy exercises and activities. You will be provided with education regarding how to manage your dizziness and unsteadiness while you are getting better. Participating in a home exercise program, specifically prescribed and guided by your therapist, is an important component of your recovery process.

MULTIFACTORIAL BALANCE DISTURBANCE

You may be feeling off balance from issues related to trauma, illness or aging, and you may be fearful of falling. Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries requiring medical attention in the United States. The good news is that in many cases falls are potentially preventable.

Maintaining balance and mobility is essential to living safely and with the greatest level of independence. In addition to making it possible to perform basic activities of daily living, such as rising from a chair or climbing a flight of stairs, good balance forms the foundation on which a healthy and active lifestyle is built. Impairments in any of the multiple systems that contribute to balance not only limit the extent and type of physical activities we can enjoy but may also result in falls, leading to further restrictions in activity and profound psychological consequences. The strong association between impaired balance and mobility suggests the need for activity-based programs that specifically and systematically focus on improving the multiple dimensions of the balance system, particularly among older adults.

Physical Therapists at the Johnson & Hayes Dizziness and Balance Program begin by taking a careful history of factors which may be affecting your balance and by asking you to describe what goals you want to achieve for yourself. Therapists then assess you for specific physical impairments that are affecting your balance. Therapists will also help you identify areas in and around your home that contribute to heightened fall risk.

Once the physical therapy assessment is complete, your therapist will develop an individualized therapy program for you. You will be instructed in specific activities to do at home. Changes will be made to your therapy program as needed and a complete reassessment of your progress will be made every 10th visit.

“LSVT BIG” PROGRAM FOR PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE

LSVT BIG is an intensive, research-based form of neurorehabilitation for Parkinson’s patients which focuses on restoring amplitude to functional movements such as walking, getting out of chairs, moving freely in bed and reaching for objects. This specific mode of therapy will help with freezing episodes frequently experienced with PD. The amplitude-based “BIG” Exercise Program is a standardized exercise protocol, delivered in one hour, individual sessions. Sessions are provided on four consecutive days a week for four weeks. A high degree of effort and commitment is required of each program participant. Outcomes are far superior to traditional physical therapy programs for Parkinson’s patients. See the website LSVTGlobal.com for additional information, including impressive before and after videos.

Physical Therapists that specialize in Dizziness and Balance at Johnson & Hayes:

• Hampton Cove
  Susan DuPre’, DPT, MS
• Huntsville
  Sara Dorr, DPT
  Lydia Freund, PT, DPT
• Madison-Hughes Rd.
  Allison Lindsey, DPT
  Lindsay Gandy, PTA
• Madison-Balch Crossing
  Sharon Anderson, DPT