Staying on Your Feet: How Neuropathy and Sensory Loss Affects Balance and What You Can Do About It
Balance and walking aren't just about strength but also about sensing the world around you. This interactive presentation explores how our nervous system uses information from the environment to keep us steady and safe during everyday activities. Learn how peripheral neuropathy combined with normal age-related sensory changes, can silently compromise your balance and walking ability, potentially threatening your independence over time.
Participants will discover:
- How sensation from your feet acts as your body's "early warning system" for balance
- The three sensory systems that work together to keep you upright and how they change with age
- Why neuropathy increases fall risk and affects walking patterns
- Evidence-based strategies to compensate for reduced sensation and maintain stability
- Practical exercises and modifications you can implement at home to maximize safety and function
- When to seek help from a physical therapist or healthcare provider
Whether you're currently experiencing numbness or tingling in your feet, have been diagnosed with neuropathy, or simply want to understand how aging affects your balance, this session will provide actionable insights to help you stay active, independent, and confident in your mobility.
Presenter: Gregory Brusola, PhD, DPT, PT, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. He specializes in the management of neurological conditions and is a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Specialist. His clinical and teaching interests center on balance, walking, and neurologic rehabilitation across the lifespan. He works with individuals whose sensory and neurologic changes affect their mobility, with a focus on practical, evidence-based strategies people can use to stay safe and independent at home. His research specifical revolves around the integration of technology in augmenting and optimizing the evaluation and treatment of mobility in various neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, and spinal cord injury.