Though Americans ages 65 and older have a one in four chance of falling, falls are not an inevitable part of aging, they’re preventable. If you find yourself losing your balance, it's time to reduce your risk. At home is a great place to start, and if you or a loved one is at risk of falling, you’ve probably already implemented a couple of tactics like installing grab bars in the bathroom and eliminating trip hazards around your home. But you may not have pursued the most impactful way that you can improve your safety. A physical therapist can help improve your strength, stability, and mobility and reduce your risk of falling.
Here’s how I help my patients reduce their likelihood of injury from falls:
Step 1 - Assess risk
During a balance and gait assessment at my practice, I discuss the patient’s history (past falls, especially in the last year, and any recent hospitalizations or other causes of weakness or lost muscle mass) and any diagnoses like osteoporosis or arthritis. I assess their strength and stride and conduct a range of tests to check their balance.
I typically ask about the patient’s medications, too. If you take multiple medicines (prescribed or over the counter), your risk for falling is higher. Many drugs can cause you to be dizzy, lose your balance or have blurry vision. Once identified, these side effects and medications can be discussed with your doctor or pharmacist. Additionally, it helps to be aware that fall risk increases significantly in the days following a medication change (start, stop, or dose change), according to some studies.
Step 2 - Implement a personalized treatment plan
The best treatment plans combine exercises to address four key areas: strength, balance, coordination and posture. Flexibility matters too, since range of motion in the legs or spine impacts your walking and gait pattern. I utilize various tools to get baseline scores and track improvement throughout the treatment plan and sessions.
In many cases, the best way to improve balance is to challenge it. We accomplish this by combining upper body and lower body movements, working on steps and curbs, practicing standing on one leg, and navigating unsteady surfaces. All of these potentially risky actions can be practiced safely and beneficially with the help of a trained therapist.
I can also help a client prepare for how to minimize injury if a fall can’t be avoided. We practice getting up from the floor, and we evaluate safety measures like life alerts or smartphone/smartwatch apps for fall detection.
Importantly, my patients’ treatment course extends outside the clinic to touch their daily lives. We talk about the importance of staying active to maintain strength, flexibility, coordination and balance. Staying active has the added benefit of typically reducing your fear of falling. I help my patients select activities that they can do safely - yoga, swimming, walking, or other pursuits they enjoy.
Overall, physical therapy can be extremely effective in preventing falls and building confidence, and that leads to other benefits. Recently I worked with a client who was reluctant to walk on the grass for fear of falling, and as a result he’d missed out on many backyard picnics and his grandkids’ sporting events. When I help a patient like that achieve new goals and do things they thought they couldn’t, it improves so much more than their physical function, it improves their quality of life. It’s a privilege for me to play a role in that.
If you or a loved one needs a falls screening and guidance about reducing risk, please contact me today.
Be well,
Brian
This article is not medical advice. It is intended for general informational purposes and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
Seniors who maintain their fitness are less likely to experience a detrimental and costly fall. 30% of adults age 65+ will experience a fall yearly. The cost... $50 billion A YEAR! Most of these incidence occur in seniors ages 85+ or older.
The estimated damage a fall causes for an individual varies on the severity of the incident. One fall could put major limitations on an individual, setting back one from participating in activities they enjoy for good.
One way seniors can prevent falls is by training and practicing safe habits to maintain strength, balance, and coordination.
