what causes poor balance

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Kristina1

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PALS
Diagnosis
03/2017
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US
State
MA
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Grafton
I'm having some trouble with balance. Is that related to weakness or related to another neurological component? I'm trying to understand if this means weakness is spreading to a new region or not.
 
If you are very spastic that could affect balance. I am guessing you are not dizzy? I know you have started new meds....

I have some issues too that I think are from leg weakness. You could also have core weakness that would throw off your balance.

What I find is that I have to pay attention. My neuro asked me once if I have to think about walking. I do. No more walking along admiring scenery or using my phone or even having a conversation with a companion
 
Kristina can you describe it a little more?

Nikki said it well - Chris would say the same thing about having to concentrate every moment. Muscles are weak and also with spasticity if that is present, muscles just don't obey smoothly. He certainly never had any kind of dizziness, but could just go over very suddenly.
 
No, no dizziness. I just tip over easily. For example it is hard to stand on one foot, or to squat, or to perch on one knee. I will squat to look for something in the bottom shelf of the pantry and end up tipping over and falling, or today I was perched with a knee tucked in on the sofa and my son accidentally swatted me and it knocked me backwards off the couch even though he barely hit me with any force at all. It just was enough to overwhelm my balance and I fell flat on my back. Or a lot of times I will squat to hug my son as he runs into my arms but again it knocks me over or backwards and I fall.
 
Yes squatting is a position that requires a lot of muscles to work together well, especially to raise from that position.

Chris hated having to ask me to retrieve things from lower cupboards but he would topple every time he attempted to squat or even lean down low. xxx
 
It sounds similar to what I experience which I know to be leg weakness though the bits with your son remind me of my sister early on and I think that was mostly a loss of core strength
 
Ok, thanks. Core/abs and legs were exactly the two I wondered if might be causing it. But I was hoping not since I hadn't previously had weakness there.
 
If you have spasticity combined with LMN weakness, it can complicate things as well. In a healthy person, the brain sends many many signals to your muscles to maintain balance, and also receives feedback from those muscles in order to help maintain balance. By making constant adjusments to a whole network of muscles, a person can remain upright without even thinking about things.

Unfortunately, it's different for folks who have ALS/MND. While your brain is working as hard as it possibly can to keep you in a chosen position, it's likely only getting a few signals through to your muscles and only getting erratic signals back. As people said above, it's going to take more awareness and care on your part to be able to maintain balance or make sure you are in a safe position if tipping over is happening more frequently.
 
Hi Kristina,

I wonder about this too. I have very good core and arm strength but serious spasticity in my legs, and less so (but still significant) in my arms and shoulders, and I have VERY poor balance, even using a rolling walker, so I now supplement with a manual wheelchair. Anyway, balance issues are definitely part of the MND package but I couldn't tell you why exactly. I wish I could still squat..
 
I found that my balance worsened as my calf muscles weakened. Those specific muscles had the greatest impact for me.
 
Upper motor neurone. I am upper motor neurone dominant. Happens in your head even if legs are still good. You need to be really careful of falls.
 
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