Health
Live Well with Phil Rainier: Fall Prevention
By |
Hello again!
As I write the second edition of LiveWELL with Phil Rainier, I find myself thinking about the fall prevention seminar Central Physical Therapy will be presenting to seniors at St. Alphonsus and Greenwell Springs Baptist. Like it or not, when we get older, falling is one of the biggest threats to our independence.
In fact, after the age of 65, falling is one of the top causes of “preventable injuries.” Take note of the word “preventable”, I’ll say more about that later. For now, let’s just focus on falls and how devastating they can be as we age. While some seniors heal and return to a normal life after a fall resulting in a broken bone, others go on to need 24 hour medical care. It may come in the form of a home health nurse, an assisted living facility or nursing home. Sadly, research shows nearly 30% of older people who break a hip die within a year. Causes range from blood clots to pneumonia.
So why are seniors so vulnerable to fall-related injuries? To answer that question, experts say you have to understand the components of balance. There are three systems that regulate our ability to stand upright. Those systems are vision, somatosensory, and vestibular. Like hearing and smell, with age none of them work as well as they did when we were younger. The result is a diminished sense of balance — the leading cause of falls in people over 65.
Here’s the good news. Remember earlier when I said to remember the word preventable? According to Physical Therapist and trained vestibular specialist Richard O’Quinn, “the body has the ability to regain a sense of balance” which in and of itself will prevent falls. O’Quinn oversees the “Fall Prevention” program at Central Physical Therapy. Using sophisticated technology, O’Quinn is able to uncover specific problems areas related to a person’s balance. He then uses what he learns to develop individualized physical therapy programs that drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the risk of falls.
There are also things seniors can do on their own to avoid falls. They include:
•Fall-proofing their home by having it well-lit, keeping small objects off the floor and making sure rugs have non-slip backings.
•Installing handrails in tubs and showers
•Doing exercises to strengthen and stretch tight muscles and joints that will help the body stay upright.
•Asking the doctor if you are taking medications that may be affecting your balance.
If those things don’t work, Richard O’Quinn says, “Fall Prevention Therapy” may be right for them. Unfortunately, he says, “many won’t get it because they don’t know physical therapy for fall prevention is covered by Medicare.”
Regardless of what an elderly person does to offset the very real threat of falling, O’Quinn says it’s important to do something. In the absence of some type of action, the fear of falling can and often does result in someone who is older retreating from life. They pull back from the activities they once loved. Eventually become prisoners in their own homes because the prospect of falling scares them too much to leave.
Don’t let that happen to you. If a loss of balance has you concerned, ask your doctor what he thinks may be causing it and what steps you can take to improve the problem. Ask them if “Fall Prevention” therapy may help because while being careful may be a good first step, it’s not a solution to the problem. In the meantime, feel free to contact me if you would like me to arrange a “Fall Prevention” seminar for your church seniors group or organization.
Phil Rainier is Director of Marketing and Communications at Central Physical Therapy. He can be contacted at 261-7094. *Phil Rainier is not a doctor. The information in his column should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you have a medical problem, see your doctor as soon as possible.
0 comments