Decrease Your Risk of Falling with the Help of Physical Therapy!
Do you frequently notice an imbalance, dizziness, or unsteadiness that makes you feel as if you may fall over at any given time? than fall prevention therapy is for you
Have you suffered from a fall in the past?
Are you worried that you may be at risk of sustaining a fall-related injury?
One-third of the population over 65 falls each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is rushed to the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), over 2.5 million adults were treated for nonfatal injuries in emergency departments in 2013. In older adults, falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries.
“Fall Prevention” treatment is answer to all above questions
If you are at risk of falling, contact Physical Therapy & Hand Rehabilitation today so we can help you figure out the root of your problem and treat it accordingly.
Most people don’t think about keeping their balance in shape until it is too late and they suffer a harsh fall.
The good news is that most falls can easily be prevented, simply by the regular exercising of your balance system.
If you have recently sustained a balance-related injury, it is important to seek the help of our therapists immediately, in order to avoid additional injuries in the future.
Physical therapy and fall risks
A recently published systematic review by Cochrane, comprised of over 100 randomized controlled trials, supports exercise interventions as an effective treatment method for patients with an increased risk of falling. The average age of patients in this review was 76, and 77% of the patients were women.
Results concluded that those who participated in exercise interventions had a 23% decrease in falls as compared to the control group.
Fall risk was also reduced at 21-24%, depending on if treatments were done in individual or group settings. The risk of fall-related fractures was decreased by 27% and the number of falls that required medical attention was decreased by 39%.
Concluding statements from the authors demonstrated how overall, “Exercise reduces both the rate of falls…and the number of people experiencing falls.”
At Physical Therapy & Hand Rehabilitation, your initial physical evaluation may consist of several parts to better determine what your most problematic factors are.
These may include vision tests, thinking tests, resting heart rate checks, active heart rate checks, and evaluations of your gait, balance, range of motion, and strength.
Based on the results of this evaluation, our physical therapist will design a treatment plan for your specific needs.
These plans are aimed first and foremost at reducing your risk of falling, but they will also aid you in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement.
Some common forms of treatment include:
Balance training
The treatment helps to decrease swelling by limiting the pressure between the skin and the tissues underneath. This allows any buildup of fluid to travel freely and promotes easier movement of the affected area.
Endurance training
Pain management
Walking and moving programs
Strength training
Examples of fall risk
Some people have a higher risk of falling than others. Certain risk factors include:
Our physical therapist in Silver Spring and Riverdale Park will assess your medical history to determine how many risk factors toward falling you may have.
They will educate you on what these factors mean, as well as steps you can take to decrease your risk.
After this, they will perform a thorough physical evaluation to figure out what the best treatment plan for you will be.
Are you experiencing these symptoms?
If you have any of the following symptoms, physical therapy could greatly benefit you and help prevent the risk of falling.
It is important to note that you should also contact a physical therapist if you have any of the following symptoms:
Ready to get started?
Are you ready to get back on your feet by improving your balance and decreasing your risk of sustaining a fall-related injury?
Contact Physical Therapy & Hand Rehabilitation to request an appointment and get started today!