Arthritis is a general term that means inflammation of the joints. Osteoarthritis, commonly known as wear and tear arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. It is associated with a breakdown of cartilage in joints and can occur in almost any joint in the body.
Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments. 1  Loss of balance could be a very disabling problem. This is especially true in the elderly where a fall cold be life threatening. 2  A very common cause of imbalance is caused by the disease of the nerves, which causes two problems. If the nerves responsible for sensation stop working, then the limbs become numb and the brain can no longer feel where the legs are causing loss of balance.
Head injury, strenuous physical activity, ear infections, and atmospheric pressure changes can cause inner ear fluid to leak into your middle ear. This can cause balance problems. Sea travel can cause balance problems that may take hours, days, or months to clear up. A tumor, such as an acoustic neuroma, can also cause balance problems.