Falls!

Author: Dave Smith, PT, DPT, CSP

Every year, one in three people over the age of 65 have at least one fall. Common injuries that can result from a fall include hip, wrist, shoulder and spine fractures, lacerations (cuts), and contusions (bruises). According to the Mayo Clinic, falls are the number 1 cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for patients above the age of 65. Falling does not just lead to injuries, it can often lead to a pattern of decreased activity that can make people afraid to even leave the house or participate in the activities they love to do. But don’t fret, it is not all doom and gloom. Most falls are preventable and we are here to help you prevent any of the negative side effects associated with losing your balance.

So, what are the leading causes of all these falls? It often comes down to your unique physical traits as well as factors within your environment.

Physical Trait Risk Factors:

Muscle weakness and inflexibility
Proprioception impairments (body position awareness)
Abnormal walking patterns or posture
Physical inactivity and decreased endurance
Vestibular impairments (inner ear aspects of balance such as dizziness)
Fear of falling and having previous falls
Vision impairments
Side Effects of Medication
Sensation impairments (such as numbness or tingling in the feet)
Illness history (especially osteoporosis/osteopenia)

Environmental Risk Factors:

Improper footwear
Improper use of assistive device (Ex: stick, walker, etc.)
Lack of handrails on stairs or grab bars in bathrooms
Clutter (Ex: throw rugs, electrical cords, etc.)
Low chairs/couches
Poor lighting: people are more likely to fall in low lit environments.
Poor planning (Ex: standing on unstable chairs to reach for items)
Wet floors
Pets

What can you do to help yourself?

Check out https://healthyyou.org.uk/services/falls-prevention/! If you are 65 years or older, you live in Cambridge or Peterborough, and you are registered at a GP surgery in those areas you can utilize Healthy You Falls Prevention service for free. They hold weekly strength/balance classes as well as providing you with an individual falls risk assessment.
Contact a physiotherapist! Research shows that individuals at a high falls risk who participate in a focused physical therapy program have a 31% reduction in falls over the course of a year compared to people who do not participate.

At Cambridge Physiotherapy Clinic (CPC), our physio’s are trained to create a plan to recover from a fall, assess and lower your risk for a future fall, and work to get you back to doing the things you love without fear.

Here are just a few of the ways we can help:

Medical History Review: Through a thorough intake of your current and past health history, we can help to determine evidence based reasons for your loss of balance.
Physical Examination: After a thorough physical examination, your physiotherapist will determine what specific areas may be putting you at risk whether it be strength, balance, mobility, your eyesight, your vestibular system, or something else.
Physiotherapy Treatment: Based on the results of your medical history and physical examination, we will put together a treatment plan of care. This will most likely involve corrective exercises targeted at your balance and strength. However, it may also have components of manual therapy- the act of using hands on techniques to address limitations in your joint mobility or muscle flexibility.
Plan: We want to make sure that you feel safe and motivated towards your physio plan of care, so we will always collaborate with you regarding implementation. We will work with you to make sure you make the most progress possible towards your goals.
Referral Coordination: Our physiotherapists will also help guide you to other trusted healthcare partners who might be a great asset to the fall-fighting team, such as pharmacists, optometrists, and neurologists (just to name a few).

Before you ever have your first fall, let us help you determine your risk assessment and create the best possible prevention plan. If you do find yourself with an injury, CPC will be there to pick up.

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