Balance and falls Prevention

Why is fall prevention important?

Almost 25% of people older than 65 experience a fall annually, and most of the time, these falls are not discussed with a healthcare provider. Once you have a fall over the age of 65, your chances of falling again doubles. The fear of falling often prevents older adults from partaking in physical activity, weakening their muscles and joints from lack of activity. The weakening of muscles and support for joints leads to altered balance and an increased risk of another fall. At Clinetic, we can help by encouraging movement to strengthen muscles and help decrease the fear around physical activity in old age. As a result, the risk of falls can be decreased significantly.

Most common causes and risk factors for falls

Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors and fear of injury. Once the cause of the fall is identified, a treatment plan will be designed to address the cause and prevent falls and fractures. Causes of falls include:

 

  • Lower extremity muscle weakness
  • Health conditions such as diabetes and arthritis
  • Postural muscle weakness
  • Wrong type or poor fitting of walking aids (cane or walker)
  • Previously fallen
  • Bowel or bladder incontinence
  • Vision problems
  • Foot pain
  • Neuropathies
  • A hazardous environment such as loose rugs and poor lighting
  • Dizziness due to medication such as tranquillisers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
  • Dizziness related to inner ear disorders such as Vertigo, inner ear weakness, and BPPV

 

Risk factors for falls include

 

  • Having experienced a fall
  • Taking many different medications
  • Having chronic diseases
  • Having arthritis, especially in the legs
  • Problems with vision
  • Poor or impaired balance
  • Weak muscles
  • Changes in blood pressure or heart rate

How can balance and fall prevention be managed?

With the aid of one of our practitioners, older adults can overcome their fears of falling by taking fall prevention measures and gaining confidence in the strength and stability of their body. Our therapists help to educate people about fall prevention measures, improve their strength with exercises, and decrease risk factors for falls. At Clinetic, we find the root cause of falls and inactivity and treat the problem directly to encourage a safe and healthy lifestyle. Some treatment examples include: