Seasons change, and today is AUTUMNAL EQUINOX, the First Day of FALL 2021, but Fall doesn’t mean that you or your loved ones lose your balance and fall!
Balance is a critical component of aging. Many older adults struggle with their stability as the year’s pass. However, it is not normal to suffer from falls.
As we age our joints become stiffer, limiting our range of motion. Sensory changes in our feet can occur, resulting in difficulty detecting the surface that we’re on. Muscle strength may diminish and reaction time decreases. Visual changes can cause difficulty picking up on environmental safety risks. All of these changes contribute to changes in our stability.
Injuries that occur as a result of falls can contribute to decreased activity level, limited mobility, and increased fear of falling. One fall can create a vicious cycle. The good news is that with therapy and other interventions falls can be prevented.
Increase Strength
Choose a form of exercise that challenges your muscles. Without challenge, there is no change, which means no strength gains. Ideally, we want to strengthen muscles that play a large role in balance and stabilization.
Regular Exercise
A regular exercise pattern can help to facilitate improved strength, flexibility, and range of motion to minimize deficits that might occur with aging.
Proper Footwear
Ensure that footwear is secure and does not slip off your feet. Check the soles for wear. Shoes with good tread help to provide better traction and minimize risk of falls.
Home Environment
Be sure to clear any clutter from high traffic areas. Tuck away any cords or wires. Remove or secure any area rugs, as they may pose a tripping hazard. Install nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms to ensure safety when getting up in the middle of the night.
If you have difficulty implementing a strength program of your own at home or are concerned about your balance with these activities, then we recommend that you come in for an evaluation by one of our therapists. In the clinic, the therapist will evaluate you and develop a treatment plan specific to your needs. It will focus on gait, or walking skills, strength and flexibility, and vestibular rehabilitation; among other components.
Dr. Cassie Zanolini Newsom, PT, DPT,
WWS Physical Therapy and Vestibular Rehabilitation
Doylestown, PA.
215 -489-3234
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