Maintaining one’s balance requires that multiple body systems work in unison. Aging, disease, medications and injury can all affect these systems and can lead to imbalance, dizziness and mobility problems.

Good news!
Thanks to recent advancements and programs like Safe & Steady, we now know that balance is a skill that most of us can keep or recapture. You can become steadier on your feet and reduce your chance of falling.

• More than 90 million American adults experience dizziness or balance problems at some time in their lives.
• Falls are the leading cause of injury in the older adult; dizziness is second only to low back pain in patient complaints to the doctor.
• Costs associated with falls among the elderly are estimated to range from $75 to $100 billion annually.

As a Safe & Steady program participant, you’ll receive a thorough examination by specially trained and certified physical therapists using advanced computerized instrumentation. Pictured Right

After pinpointing the cause/s of your particular imbalance problem, a specific program of exercises and activities will be created for you that will help reduce your symptoms and limitations and make you feel more Safe & Steady.

You’ll also learn techniques and strategies for better coping with your imbalance problems around your home and in the community. Family members are often included in this training and find it very helpful.

If it is determined that your imbalance problems are related to your inner ear (one of the systems in the body that control our balance), you’ll be given specific treatments that can retrain your system, improve your balance and reduce your feelings of dizziness.

You or a family member can contact us for more information. Or your physician or other health care provider can refer you to us. In either case, we coordinate our care with your personal physician or other health care provider.

Please contact us by phone at: 805) 687-8553

Or e-mail us at: info@hpcsb.com

HPC’s Safe & Steady Balance Team
Physical therapists Diane Barrickman PT, MA, OCS, Debbie Fischer, MPT and Clinic Director Bob Huhn, PT, MA are all specially trained to evaluate and treat imbalance and vestibular disorders. Adding to her extensive training and experience in the assessment and treatment of imbalance and vestibular disorders, Diane Barrickman recently became one of a select few physical therapists nationwide to have completed Advanced Certification in vestibular evaluation and treatment.