Fall Preventions

Don’t let a fear of falling keep you from being active.

There are many causes of balance problems, such as medications, ear infections, a head injury, or anything else that affects the inner ear or brain. Low blood pressure can lead to dizziness when you stand up too quickly. Problems that affect the skeletal or visual systems, such as arthritis or eye muscle imbalance, can also cause balance disorders. Your risk of having balance problems increases as you get older.

 

The good news is that there clinically proven ways to prevent most falls and we can help.
A collaborative effort between your doctor and our physical therapy team can make a difference.

 

IT STARTS WITH A THOROUGH EVALUATION
Physical therapy starts with a thorough evaluation of your health & fall risk factors. We will then set up a personalized prevention program to address the findings we identify during your initial visit.

 

EVALUATION AND TREATMENT MAY INVOLVE ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• Strength testing
• Flexibility testing
• Walking (gait) patterns
• Your health history
• Sight and hearing screenings
• Blood pressure
• Assistive/adaptive device use & education
• Footwear recommendations
• Review of your medications & side effects along with your physician
• Strength training
• Balance training
• Flexibility exercises
• Visual exercises
• Functional exercises
• Weight-bearing exercises
• Sleep hygiene
• Risk reduction/modification education
• A personalized home program

 

HOW OUR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS CAN HELP
Physical therapist directed treatment can assist patients with fall prevention in a number of ways. As experts in the evaluation and treatment of movement, muscle, joint, and nervous system disorders, our physical therapists can prescribe and implement a variety of treatments.

 

EDUCATION IS THERAPY
The most important part of fall preventions is understanding the cause of the problem, and how to manage it. That’s why we place great emphasis on patient education and coordination of care with your referring physician.

 

THREE ADDITIONAL AND IMPORTANT TREATMENT OPTIONS
Reduce Fall Risk. Your physical therapist will assess problem footwear and hazards in your home that increase your risk of balance problems or falling. Household hazards include loose rugs, poor lighting, unrestrained pets, or other possible obstacles.

 

Reduce Fear of Falling. By addressing specific problems that are found during the examination, your physical therapist will help you regain confidence in your balance and your ability to move freely and perform daily activities. As you build confidence in your balance and physical ability, you will be better able to enjoy your normal daily activities.

 

Care Collaboration. Working in collaboration with your medical doctor, allows you to get two expert opinions and assessments of your condition. Together, we can better address your balance disorders and decrease your fear of falling and fall risks.

Everyone is different so treatment programs will vary. The best thing you can do is contact our office and schedule an initial evaluation for balance treatment & our fall prevention program. In most cases, insurance will cover it.