How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Better Balance and Stability

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 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.

Staff Spotlight: Hannah Lamitie, PT

With more than 30 years of experience as a Physical Therapist, Hannah Lamitie brings deep clinical expertise and a genuinely patient‑centered approach to Optimum Health & Wellness. She specializes in treating balance impairments, dizziness, and vertigo, and has extensive background across neurological and orthopedic conditions. Hannah is passionate about helping clients understand their limitations, regain confidence, and achieve meaningful progress in their recovery.

Hannah believes that the best care starts with connection. She takes time to get to know each client, ensuring they feel supported, heard, and empowered throughout their physical therapy journey. Because health insurance often limits visit frequency, Hannah works diligently to maximize every session—providing effective home programs that help clients accelerate results and maintain long‑term wellness.

Before joining Optimum Health & Wellness, Hannah spent over two decades in Colorado, where she worked within an Ear, Nose & Throat physician’s practice, focusing on vestibular and balance disorders. Originally from New York State, she now enjoys calling Ketchikan home and is excited to be part of a welcoming, collaborative healthcare team.

Driven by a commitment to quality care, a love of meeting people from all walks of life, and the power of a positive mindset, Hannah brings warmth, skill, and dedication to every client she serves.

When she’s not in the clinic, you’ll likely find her outdoors hiking, walking, exercising, or exploring the beauty of Southeast Alaska. She also enjoys the challenge of learning to play the piano—a new adventure she’s embraced with enthusiasm.

Favorite Quote: “For I only have a moment and a whole world yet to see.”

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 Optimum Health & Wellness 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 Optimum Health & Wellness. We’ll help you understand your condition so you can find relief!

Healthy Recipe: Balance-Boosting Salmon Bowl

This nutrient-rich recipe supports bone and muscle health—essential for maintaining balance and stability!

Ingredients:

• 6 oz salmon fillet
• 1 cup quinoa, cooked
• 2 cups cooked broccoli
• ½ avocado, sliced
• ¼ cup walnuts, chopped
• Lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Season salmon with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Bake at 400°F for 12-15 minutes until cooked through.

2. Arrange quinoa as the base of your bowl. Top with cooked broccoli and flaked salmon.

3. Add avocado slices and sprinkle with walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.

Why it’s good for balance: Salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D for muscle function and walnuts provide additional omega-3s and protein for muscle strength.

Community Collaboration: Supporting the Next Generation of Healthy Kids.

Optimum is proud to be supporting Michael DeLeon in his important work of educating students on drug risks and how to support their long-term health. We went to Houghtaling Elementary School to watch him speak to the kids and meet the school principal.