10/03/2026
🧠A stroke can change the way your brain controls balance in many ways. Some people may only have one of these problems, and some may have a combination of the below:
1. Weakness: It is common to have muscle weakness on one side of your body following a stroke. Weakness can involve either an arm or a leg or both and can involve the trunk as well. Muscle weakness can decrease the support of the body in sitting and standing positions, causing asymmetry and difficulty keeping the body upright against the effects of gravity. This can cause loss of balance to one side and difficulty recovering balance again.
2. Loss of sensation: Particularly in the foot and lower limb, which makes it difficult to know where your limb is in relation to space/your environment. The brain is dependent on this sensory information so that it can know how much or little to move your leg or foot, or where to place it, or how to make quick corrections to movement. Being less aware of your surroundings can increase your risk of trips and falls.
3. Visual changes: This can include loss of part of your visual field, double vision, neglect, and eye movement problems. Visual problems make it hard to see and navigate your environment and make quick adjustments to your posture and movements to maintain your balance.
4. Concentration: Due to the changes in the body following a stroke, it takes extra effort and brain power to move and balance. This can cause tiredness and reduced concentration, and in turn, affect balance. Navigating busy environments or uneven surfaces takes more concentration and challenges balance.
5. Neglect: This is a complex condition that causes the brain to not be aware of one side of the body and space to that side of the body. This can mean that people with neglect may try to move but forget to move their leg on one side, causing loss of balance. They may bump into or trip over objects on one side of their body, causing a fall.
6. Dizziness: This can occur when certain areas of the brain are affected. Dizziness can range from feelings of vertigo to feeling mildly off balance. Dizziness can also occur due to changes in blood pressure or due to medications.