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The Sock Test
Over the years, we had a patient who would self-refer for a chiropractic adjustment every now and again. Her “go sign” to ask for an adjustment was not back pain or neck pain. Every morning, she would put on her socks while standing up. If her balance was not good enough to do this, she assumed she needed a chiropractic adjustment. Usually, one or two visits improved her balance enough to pass her self-invented “sock test.”
Beyond the Sock Test
The single leg balance test is a way to recognize that you have the early stages of a balance problem. It only takes a few more seconds than our patient’s “sock test,” and is backed up by published research:
First, a note of caution, if you have a recent history of dizziness or poor balance, only perform this test when someone else is around. If you have recently sprained, dislocated or fractured any part of your lower extremity (from your hip down to your foot), wait until the injury has healed before doing this test. The test should be performed in flats or bare feet.
Stand facing a corner of the room (so you can easily catch yourself if your balance is not as good as you think it is).
With your arms on your hips, stand on one leg. You are shooting for 30 seconds. (If you
have to hop, put your foot down, take one or both hands off your hips, or touch the wall, that’s your time.)
Now, do the same with your other leg. If your single leg balance time is less than 30 seconds on one or both legs, consult with your health care provider.
Trauma in civilian and military life
Trauma is often the cause of disturbances in balance. A very common source of balance problems in military life as well as the civilian world is concussion (also known as mTBI = mild traumatic brain injury), which can come from blunt trauma or exposure to blast. Loss of balance due to concussion and other causes can delay or disrupt return to duty.
Other forms of trauma that lead to disturbed balance include whiplash, slip-and-fall trauma, and sports injuries. Pain killers and muscle relaxants are often prescribed in the aftermath of these accidents. Unfortunately, these same drugs often aggravate the balance problems. Obviously, this additional loss of balance increases the risk of falls, which can create serious injury, including further loss of balance. This can be a vicious cycle of traumaàimbalanceàtrauma.
Any of these forms of trauma can create restrictions or misalignments in the spinal joints – also known as subluxations. Subluxations in the neck or upper back can be a major factor in causing or aggravating imbalance problems, including dizziness vertigo. Chiropractic adjustments to correct subluxations can often speed the recovery of the trauma victim without the complications of pain killers and muscle relaxants.
About the Author
While serving as a medical specialist (MOS 91-B) in the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Masarsky earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in 1981. He is in the private practice of chiropractic in the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC with his wife and partner, Dr. Marion Todres-Masarsky. For research citations related to this article or appointment information, contact Dr. Masarsky at 703-938-6441 or viennachiropractic@verizon.net. Also visit his practice’s website: www.neurologicalfitness.com, and You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkEKVboDAUWH4YEJnfrlnPg.
Sources for This Article:
Testing Your Balance
Hurvitz, E., et al. “Unipedal Stance Testing as an Indicator of Fall Risk Among Older Patients.”
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2000; 81: 587-591. Unipedal stance testing as an indicator of fall risk among older outpatients - PubMed (nih.gov)
Trauma vs. Balance
Scherer MR, Schubert MC. Traumatic brain injury and vestibular pathology as a comorbidity after blast exposure. Phys Ther. 2009;89(9):980–992. Impaired sense of balance after mTBI often results in disability re work. Traumatic brain injury and vestibular pathology as a comorbidity after blast exposure - PubMed (nih.gov)
Chiropractic for Patients with Balance Problems
Walsh, M.J., B.I. Polus and M.N. Webb. “The Role of Cervical Spine in Balance and Risk of Falling
in the Elderly.” Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 2004; 34(1): 19-22. The role of cervical spine in balance and risk of falling in the elderly | Semantic Scholar
Russell BS, Hosek RS, Hoiriis KT, Drake ED. Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia and Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction: Balance, Gait, and Eye Movement Before and After Multimodal Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. J Chiropr Med, 2019; 18 (2): 144-154. Chronic Progressive External Ophthalmoplegia and Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction: Balance, Gait, and Eye Movement Before and After Multimodal Chiropractic Care: A Case Study - PubMed (nih.gov)
Pennington D, Miller JD. Successful Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Meniere’s Disease Post Vestibular Nerve Section: A Case Report. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res, 2015; 4: 34-40. Successful Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Meniere’s Disease post Vestibular Nerve Section: A Case Report | Vertebral Subluxation Research
Cote P, Mior SA, Fitz-Ritson D. Cervicogenic Vertigo: A Report of Three Cases. J Can Chiropr Assoc, 1991; 35:89. Cervicogenic vertigo: a report of three cases | Semantic Scholar
