Balance & Falls Prevention Program in Toronto

Balance & falls prevention is more important than you may think. More than 85% of the injuries experienced by the elderly are due to falls. 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.

What Is The Importance Of Balance & Strength Training In Elderly?

Below is a list of the primary reasons for falls in the elderly. It is imperative to focus on balance and strength training to prevent falls and fractures in the elderly:

Loss of strength
Health conditions such as diabetes and arthritis
Wrong type or poor fitting of walking aids (cane or walker)
Previously fallen
Poor eyesight
Poor balance
Bowel or bladder incontinence
Certain medications causing dizziness
Vertigo and dizziness
A hazardous environment such as loose rugs and poor lighting

Click here to READ MORE ABOUT PHYSIOMOBILITY’S BALANCE & DIZZINESS EXERCISE PROGRAM

Can Balance Training Help Prevent Injuries?

With the aid of a physiotherapist, seniors can overcome their fears of falling by taking falls 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 Dizziness & Balance Centre offers a combination of exercise programs and education to address mobility issues, muscle weakness and poor balance to prevent falls and fractures.

People aged 60 and over have a higher risk of fractures due to more frequent falls. Every year, about 40% of people over 65 falls at least once. Avoiding falls means fewer fractures, especially hip fractures. People with better posture, better balance, and stronger muscles are less likely to fall and are therefore less likely to be injured.

There are many causes of falling, but major factors that could put you at higher risk, include:

Having experienced a fall
Taking many different medications
Having chronic diseases
Having arthritis, especially in the legs
Problems with vision
Poor or impaired balance
Weak muscles
Changes in blood pressure or heart rate

How To Prevent Falls & Injuries?

A combination of exercise, education, and support is required to improve balance and prevent falls and injuries:

Exercise therapy
Education
Assistive device prescription
Home safety adjustments
Balance training
Footwear assessment
Improve sensation and muscle control

At Physiomobility, we have a team of qualified professionals who offer specialized treatment for various musculoskeletal conditions. Whether you have a chronic medical condition, such as arthritis, or you have experienced a sports injury, or suffer from dizziness and vertigo our experienced physiotherapists will provide you a personalized treatment, offering you relief from pain and discomfort and enabling you to get back to your usual activities quickly.

Author: Vladimir Joloud, Exercise Therapist