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.
Longer-term difficulties often result from muscular neurological issues. Problems with gait, balance, and coordination are often caused by specific conditions. These include: 1  joint pain or conditions, such as arthritis. 2  multiple sclerosis (MS). 3  Meniere's disease. 4  brain hemorrhage. 5  brain tumor. 6  Parkinsonâs disease. 7  Arnold-Chiari malformation. 8  spinal cord compression or infarction.