Balance & falls prevention is more important than you may think. More than 85% of the injuries experienced by the elderly are due to falls.
Nearly 25% of people older than 65-year-old fall at least once a year and more than half of them do not report this to their family and doctor.
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Once you have a fall due to loss of balance, your chances of falling again doubles. As one age, the fear of falling deters them from partaking in various activities, especially if they have fallen before and received a serious injury.
Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling. No matter what causes loss of balance and fall, the real problem is developing a fear of losing balance and fall and injury. Once the cause of the fall is identified, a program will be designed to address the cause and prevent falls and fractures.
With the aid of a physiotherapist, seniors can overcome their fears of falling by taking fall prevention measures. Physiotherapists educate people about fall prevention measures; improve their strength with exercises to partake in activities such as gardening and walking. To ensure the environment is safe at home, they can provide them with guidelines to follow as well as asses the medications they are taking to find out if they increase their risk of falls.
Physiombility’s dizziness clinic offers a combination of exercise programs and education to address mobility issues, muscle weakness and poor balance to prevent falls and fractures.
Fall prevention is an important initiative. As one age, physical changes in muscles, bones, and joints affect strength and mobility. These physical changes along with health conditions, increased number of medications, decreased overall activity level, make falling more likely. More importantly, many older adult develops a fear of falling that further affect mobility and activity level. Fear of falling can seriously affect your life but there are strategies that can be employed to prevent falls and improve quality of life.
Physical activities such as walking, tai chi, swimming, lightweight exercises can improve your balance and reduce your fall risk significantly.
Floppy & loose slippers, high heels, and shoes with slippery soles decrease your grip and increase your risk of falling. Comfortable and lighter shoes also decrease joint pain.
To make your home safer:
Brighten up your living space to prevent tripping and fall.
If you need a cane or walker to improve your gait or keep you steady, make sure to keep them handy and use them. If necessary, speak to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist to be assessed for needing an assistive device or home modification.
The program starts with a comprehensive assessment by our physiotherapist that includes medical history, muscle strength, ability to walk and stand, and inner ear (vestibular balance system function. Based on the findings of the assessment and when the root cause of balance impairment has been identified, a treatment plan will be devised.
A combination of exercise, education, and support is required to improve balance and prevent falls and injuries. Physiomobility’s program includes:
At Physiomobility, our team of qualified professionals works collaboratively to improve our patient’s balance, prevent falls and improve the overall quality of life. Whether you have a chronic medical condition, such as arthritis, or you have experienced a medical event, or suffer from dizziness and vertigo our experienced physiotherapists will provide you a personalized treatment enabling you to get back to your usual activities quickly.