Balance & Dizziness Program

As the first program of its kind in Central Minnesota, St. Cloud Hospital Balance & Dizziness Program uses the most advanced technology and treatment to improve quality of life for those
with balance and dizziness problems.

St. Cloud Hospital is one of few to provide state-of-the art computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) testing to help diagnose and treat patients.

Goals:

• Improve functional mobility
• Reduce dizziness
• Reduce risk of falling
• Improve balance
  

Appropriate for people with:

• Dizziness or vertigo
• Frequent falls
• Sensation of falling/imbalance
• Motion sickness while walking or during regular activities

The program consists of:

• Initial evaluation by a physical therapist and/or a doctor
• Testing to find the cause of the balance problem
• Individualized exercise program
• Training in functional activities
• Education related to diagnosis
• Equipment needs assessment
• Referral for occupational therapy, if needed, to address daily living activities (writing, bathing, dressing, cooking)

Treatment may include:

• Neck muscle exercises
• Eye exercises
• Balance exercises
• Positioning techniques

Balance and dizziness facts:

• About one-third of people older than 65 fall each year. Falls are the number one cause of
  emergency room visits for all age groups.
• Nationally, falls are the leading cause of injury death in people older than age 65. The Minnesota death rate from falls for seniors is twice the national average.
• Hip fractures are one of the most common orthopedic injuries for elderly Americans. Many
  of these hip fractures are related to balance disorders.
• According to the National Institutes of Health, 42 percent of people will visit their doctor
  because of dizziness at least once in their lifetime.
• Each year, more than 450,000 people receive head injuries. Fifty-eight percent of people who have had a traumatic brain injury complain of dizziness one to three months after the injury.