ARE YOU AT RISK OF SUSTAINING A FALL- RELATED INJURY? Mostpeopledon’t thinkaboutkeeping theirbalance in shape until it is too late and they suffer a harsh fall.Thegoodnews is thatmost fallscaneasilybe prevented, simply by the regular exercising of your balance system. If you have recently sustained a balance-related injury, it is important to seek the helpofaphysical therapist immediately, inorder to avoidadditional injuries in thefuture. It is important to note that you should also contact a physical therapist ifyouhaveanyof thefollowingsymptoms: • Dizzinessorvertigo(“spinning”sensations,even when remaining still). • Nausea or vomiting. • Arm or leg weakness. • Abnormal eye movements. • Difficulty standing up from a seated position or standing for prolonged periods of time. Do you frequently notice an imbalance, dizziness, or unsteadiness that makes you feel as if you may falloveratanygiven time?Haveyousuffered from afall in thepast?Areyouworried thatyoumaybeat riskofsustainingafall-related injury? Ifso,contact VirginiaCenterforSpine&SportsTherapy todayso wecanhelpyoufigureout the rootofyourproblem and treat it accordingly. Am I at Risk of Falling? Some people have a higher risk of falling than others. Certain risk factors include: • Inability to focus or remain alert. • Double vision or tunnel vision.
• Living a sedentary life. • Previous history of falls. • Vertigo or dizziness. • Parkinson’s disease. • Alzheimer’s disease. • Heart disease. • Diabetes.
reduces both the rate of falls…and the number of people experiencing falls.” At Virginia Center for Spine & Sports Therapy, your initial physical evaluation may consist of several parts to better determine what your most problematic factors are.These may include vision tests,thinkingtests,restingheartratechecks,active heart rate checks, and evaluations of your gait, balance, range of motion, and strength. Basedontheresultsofthisevaluation,yourphysical therapist will design a treatment plan around your specific needs. These plans are aimed first and foremost at reducing your risk of falling, but they will also aid you in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement. Are you ready to get back on your feet by improving your balance and decreasing your risk of sustaining a fall-related injury? Contact us at (804) 249-8277 or visit our website at www.vcsst.com to schedule a consultation and get started today!
• Previous stroke or heart attack. • Arthritis or alternative joint pain. • Problems with vision. • Problems with walking or staying balanced. • Fatigue. • Overall poor health. Your physical therapist will assess your medical history todeterminehowmany risk factors toward fallingyoumayhave.Theywilleducateyouonwhat these factors mean, as well as steps you can take to decrease your risk. After this, they will perform a thorough physical evaluation to figure out what the best treatment plan for you will be. How Will Physical Therapy Help Reduce My Fall Risk? ArecentlypublishedsystematicreviewbyCochrane, comprisedofover100randomizedcontrolled trials, supports exercise interventions as an effective treatment method for patients with an increased risk of falling. The average age of patients in this reviewwas76,and77%ofthepatientswerewomen. Results concluded that those who participated in exercise interventions had a 23% decrease in falls as compared to the control group. Fall risk was also reducedat21-24%,dependingon if treatments were done in individual or group settings. The risk of fall-related fractureswasdecreasedby27%and thenumberof falls that requiredmedicalattention wasdecreasedby39%.Concludingstatementsfrom the authors demonstrated how overall, “Exercise
• Advanced age. • Being female.
“I am in my mid-seventies and I observed that many of my peers were having falls. A temporary loss of balance was often the cause. My primary care doctor referred me to VCSST for balance training. The staff and especially my therapist were all very pleasant and professional. After 6 weeks of treatment, I have regained the confidence to do activities that were becoming difficult. I also have a substantial list of home exercises that I am using to continue improving my balance. I had a great experience which yielded great results.” - D. L. (5 Star Review via Google.com) Patient Spotlight
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