It is essential to keep and improve your balance as you become older because having excellent balance enables you to keep a steady, upright stance while standing, walking, and sitting and protects you from injuries that may result from a fall.
A better sense of body awareness, joint stability, coordination, posture, and a decreased chance of injury and falling are just some of the advantages that may result from working on your balance.
It is especially crucial for seniors to keep their balance in check since aging may cause problems with vision, vestibular function, and muscle weakening, all of which can negatively influence balance.
Your physical therapist at Physical Therapy Advantage in Aurora may design an exercise and balance training program specifically for you to help you maintain or regain your balance as you age and reduce the risk of falling.
Factors Leading To The Risk Of Falls
Falls are the main cause of injury among older persons. One out of every five falls results in some kind of harm, such as broken bones or a head injury.
Each year, at least 300,000 elderly persons in the United States are hospitalized with a hip fracture, which is often the result of a fall. According to the statistics, women have a higher incidence of falling than males do, and they are responsible for three-quarters of all hip fractures.
Falls may result in a fear of falling, which can restrict an individual’s normal activities, result in a loss of independence, and result in less total physical activity for the person.
It is not uncommon for people to fall when sitting on or standing on the toilet or showering in the bathroom, or getting up in the middle of the night in a dark bedroom to use the restroom.
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The likelihood of a person experiencing a fall is affected by a variety of factors, some of which are as follows:
- Problems with balance or walking may be caused by eyesight abnormalities, vestibular disorders, decreased feeling in the feet, or other medical illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or diabetes.
- Utilization of a number of different drugs (those who take 5 or more medications increase their risk of falls)
- Dangers present in the home include insufficient illumination, potential tripping hazards such as loose carpets, and an overly crowded atmosphere.
- Low blood pressure caused by one’s position (blood pressure that drops when standing)
- Concerns with feet and footwear
- Weakness of the muscles of the legs
Physical Therapy For Fall Prevention
Preventing injuries from falls is especially important for the elderly population. Physical therapists may help by doing yearly assessments of older citizens’ fall risk.
You may find out whether you’re at low, moderate, or high risk of falling by undergoing a fall risk screening and assessment.
The physical therapist will do a fall risk screening by asking you questions about your health, inquiring about any history of falls or problems with balance, standing, or walking, conducting a basic vision test, evaluating your feet and shoes, and conducting a home safety evaluation.
The therapist will have you do a series of tests of your strength, balance, and gait as part of the fall risk assessment, which is a hands-on examination.
If the physical therapist determines that you have an elevated risk of falling based on the results of the exam, they will create a fall prevention program tailored to your requirements and condition.
You may reduce your chance of falling and improve your balance with physical therapy in Aurora.
Balance Training
Single-leg standing (balancing on a small base of support), circling, and stair-stepping are all examples of the types of dynamic and static exercises that make up “balance training,” which aims to improve one’s capacity to maintain and regain balance.
Gait And Movement Training
Exercises for improving one’s gait and range of motion include dynamic maneuvers like figure eights, directional shifts, obstacle courses, and dual-tasking.
Safe Multitasking
Elderly people who have trouble walking and talking at the same time are more likely to fall. In a controlled setting, your therapist will have you practice walking and talking at the same pace as part of a dual-task training program.
Strength Training
Standing balance, walking balance, and the capacity to recover from a loss of balance may all be enhanced by strength training, which involves the targeted development of particular muscular groups such as the core and the upper and lower legs.
Endurance Training
Low-intensity aerobic exercise performed over a prolonged period of time, such as walking or aquatic treatment, is an example of endurance training.
Patient Education
Education on home safety, elimination of potential fall risks, and the development of skills to cope with a fear of falling under different circumstances are all part of patient education.
Conclusion
If you are looking for someone to help you decrease your risk of falling in Aurora, you should definitely reach out to Physical Therapy Advantage. They can offer some excellent service and training to make you prevent falls and other injuries.
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