Training your Balance System

2 days ago

2 min read

Physical therapy for balance targets one or more of the three balance systems: visual, vestibular, and somatosensory. The somatosensory system is responsible for giving your brain information about your body’s position in space. It relies heavily on feedback from your feet and ankles, which constantly monitor the firmness, texture, and stability of the surface beneath you. When this system is strong, you can adapt quickly to uneven ground, shifting surfaces, or unexpected changes in terrain.

How Therapists Challenge This System

To strengthen somatosensory input, physical therapists often use tools like a balance pad. A balance pad creates an unstable, cushioned surface that reduces the reliable feedback your feet normally receive. This forces your body to work harder to maintain stability, improving your ability to react and adjust during real‑world situations.

Translation to Real-Life

Exercises like these translate directly into everyday tasks that require quick adjustments or balancing on different surfaces. Patients often notice improvements in activities such as:

Walking on grass
Walking on turf
Stepping onto moving surfaces like a bus, boat dock, or shifting gym mat
Navigating uneven terrain such as trails, curbs, or gravel
Standing during dynamic tasks like reaching, turning, or multitasking

These are the exact environments where falls often occur, so improving the strength of your somatosensory system is a powerful way to build confidence and reduce your fall risk.

Safe Home Exercises

Your therapist may also recommend simple, safe home exercises to do with a balance pad such as:

Standing with your feet in a comfortable position on a foam pad
Standing with your feet together
Standing with your eyes closed

These exercises can help to reinforce clinic gains and help you build daily consistency.

If you’re noticing changes in your balance, feeling less steady on uneven ground, or wanting to reduce your fall risk, our team can help you strengthen the systems that keep you safe. Schedule a balance assessment or learn more about our fall‑prevention program to start moving confidently again.

Recommended Equipment to Train Your Balance System

The right equipment can play an important role in helping you recover, stay active, and achieve your goals. At POST Westover Hills, we use a variety of tools to improve strength, balance, mobility, flexibility, endurance, and overall function. While some equipment is designed specifically for clinical use, many of these same tools can also be used safely and effectively at home to complement your therapy program.

Balance Pad (click to view product on Amazon)