Struggling With Balance Issues? Speech and PT May Work Better Together

If you're struggling with balance issues, you might feel like your body is constantly working against you. At Touch Stone Rehabilitation & Health Center in Staten Island, New York, we know this instability can be scary and frustrating. Our multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Angelo Di Maggio, DC, Dr. Dean Etri, DC, Dr. Ahmed Elsoury, MD, and physical therapist Samer Dawood, PT, is dedicated to helping you regain your footing and your confidence.

Many people assume balance is simply a matter of leg strength, but it relies on a complex connection between your brain, your senses, and your muscles. Emerging science shows that addressing cognitive tasks alongside physical movement can dramatically improve your stability. Here's why speech and physical therapy concepts work so well together to keep you safe.

Why do speech and physical therapy work better together for balance?

Combining cognitive challenges with physical exercises is best for balance because it trains your brain to handle real-world distractions. In daily life, you rarely walk in a straight, silent line; you talk, look around, and solve problems while moving. 

Combining physical movement with cognitive tasks builds stronger, more resilient neural networks. A 2024 study published in peer-reviewed clinical research evaluated patients undergoing Cognitive-Motor Dual-Task (CMDT) training, which pairs cognitive exercises with physical movement. 

The researchers found that patients who did this dual training improved their Berg Balance Scale scores by an absolute average of 4.26 points compared to those who only did standard physical exercises. This statistic proves that training your brain to divide its attention makes you much safer and more stable on your feet.

The surprising connection between your voice and your core

Your voice and your physical balance are deeply connected because they share the same neural pathways and core muscles. Your diaphragm and abdominal muscles must stabilize your spine against gravity while simultaneously controlling your breath so you can speak. This physiological overlap can create a bottleneck in your brain when you try to do both at once.

According to peer-reviewed motor control research, speaking continuously can actually decrease your physical stability because your body shares resources between talking and standing. By incorporating speech and respiratory coordination into your rehabilitation, we can retrain your central lifestyle system to manage this bottleneck. 

That's why our customized physical therapy programs focus on whole-body coordination to help you move and communicate safely.

Overcoming the misconception that balance is only about leg strength

The idea that balance issues are solely caused by weak legs is a common misconception; in reality, balance is a complex neurological calculation. Your brain must constantly process signals from your eyes, joints, and inner ear to keep you upright.

In fact, the National Institutes of Health reports that vestibular (inner ear) disorders affect more than 35% of US adults aged 40 and older. These disorders cause severe disorientation and falls, regardless of how strong your legs are. Because balance is a multi-system process, treating it requires a comprehensive approach beyond muscle strength.

Find your stability again

If you or a loved one is dealing with instability, you don't have to navigate it alone. Our team in Staten Island, New York, is ready to design a personalized plan to help you feel secure on your feet again. Contact our team today to schedule your consultation.