BModerate evidence
Physical · concept
Sensory Integration for Balance (Vision, Vestibular, Proprioception)
How the brain blends eyesight, inner-ear, and body-position signals to stay upright, and how training reweights them.
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Evidence suggests…
Balance depends on integrating three sensory channels: vision, the vestibular (inner-ear) system, and proprioception. When one is degraded, the others must compensate. Training that manipulates these inputs, for example reducing vision or standing on foam, improves balance. Whether it does so by retuning how the nervous system weights the three channels is a mechanism the research reviewed for this library does not test, so the reweighting story is an explanation rather than a finding.
2–3×/week manipulating vision/surface conditions, ≥6 weeks Foam pad; optional; support surface all levels home or clinic
balancefall preventionhealthy agingcoordinationgeneral adultsolder adultsfall-risk
Common misconceptions
- 'Balance is just in the legs' (it is a whole-brain sensory-integration task)
- 'Closing your eyes is always safe practice' (only with support and progression)
What we won't claim
- Does not guarantee prevention of any fall or injury
- Not a substitute for medical evaluation of dizziness, syncope, or unexplained falls
- Does not diagnose or treat vestibular disorders
When to seek a professional
- Two or more falls in the past 12 months, or any fall with injury
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting during standing or movement
- New or worsening unsteadiness, neurological symptoms, or numbness in the feet
- Fear of falling severe enough to restrict daily activity
- New vertigo, spinning, or hearing change
Key sources (6), grade mix A:3 · B:2 · C:1
56 supporting studies inform this block; the key sources below are shown with their individual grades and DOI links. This is the audit trail.
AToby C. T. Mak, T. Wong, S. Ng (2021) · Experimental Gerontology · 10.1016/j.exger.2021.111612
AJessica O'Brien, Amy Mason, Jason S. Chan, A. Setti (2023) · Multisensory Research · 10.1163/22134808-bja10090
AYuanji Zhong, Pengwei Chen, Wenhao Guo, Yongshun Wang, Yang Xue, Penghong Chen, Jingjin Liu (2025) · Frontiers in Physiology · 10.3389/fphys.2025.1623908
BSeongryu Bae, Jaewon Choi, Jiwon Yang, Kai Wang, Eun-Seon Noh, Hyuntae Park (2025) · Exercise Science · 10.15857/ksep.2025.00304
BT. Rahimi, Saeed Arsham, Gholamrez Lotfi, Hassan Sadeghi (2025) · Ṭibb-i Tavānbakhshī · 10.32598/sjrm.13.6.3282
CL. Allison, T. Kiemel, J. Jeka (2018) · Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy · 10.1097/npt.0000000000000214
✓Explore all 718 studies in Neuromotor (Balance/Agility/Coordination) →
The full evidence base this focus area draws on, every study with its grade and DOI.