Balance and Coordination in Neurological Conditions

Balance and coordination are essential for almost every movement we make, from walking across a room to reaching for a glass. For many people living with neurological conditions, these abilities can be affected, making daily activities more challenging and increasing the risk of falls. At PhysioFunction, we understand how crucial it is to restore, improve and/or maintain these skills, and we offer specialist rehabilitation tailored to each client’s needs.

Why Balance and Coordination Are Affected

Neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, or spinal cord injury can disrupt the messages between the brain, nerves, and muscles. Damage to areas of the brain such as the cerebellum or pathways within the nervous system can affect:

• Balance – the ability to maintain your body’s position, whether still or moving.
• Coordination – the smooth, efficient control of muscles and joints to produce purposeful movement.

Symptoms can include unsteadiness, dizziness, difficulty judging distances, or clumsy and inaccurate movements. Even simple tasks like standing from a chair or carrying a drink can become more difficult without these functions working smoothly.

The Role of Rehabilitation

The good news is that the brain and body have the capacity to adapt through neuroplasticity - the ability of the nervous system to reorganise and form new pathways. With the right therapy, repetitive practice, and targeted exercises, balance and coordination can improve, even years after the onset of a neurological condition.

At PhysioFunction, our approach begins with a detailed assessment to understand your unique challenges and goals. From there, we design a personalised programme that uses evidence-based techniques to rebuild stability and control.

How PhysioFunction Can Help

Our therapies for balance and coordination target the underlying systems that control movement, including the visual, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive (body awareness) systems. We use a wide range of interventions, such as:

1. Task-Specific Training - Practising everyday movements like stepping, turning, or reaching helps you regain functional skills and reinforces correct movement patterns.
2. Strength and Stability Exercises - Strong muscles, especially in the legs and core, are essential for maintaining balance. We use progressive strengthening to improve postural control and reduce the effort needed to stay upright.
3. Dynamic Balance Challenges - Activities such as stepping over obstacles, changing direction, or working on unstable surfaces help train your body to adapt to different environments and situations.
4. Coordination Drills - Targeted exercises like cone tapping, ball catching, or alternating arm and leg movements can retrain timing and sequencing for smoother, more accurate actions.
5. Specialist Technology - Equipment such as LiteGait, functional electrical stimulation (FES), and virtual reality systems can provide safe, repetitive practice while engaging multiple senses.

Improving balance and coordination isn’t just about exercise. it’s about confidence. Fear of falling can limit activity and slow progress. That’s why our team also focuses on building self-assurance, teaching strategies to manage challenges, and encouraging gradual progression in a safe environment.

Whether you want to walk more steadily, return to a favourite activity, or simply feel safer moving around at home, PhysioFunction’s neurorehabilitation specialists can help. By combining expert assessment, tailored exercise programmes, and innovative technology, we support you in regaining control, maximising independence, and quality of life.