One-third of the population over the age of 65 experiences a fall each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is rushed to the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.
Physical Therapy N E W S L E T T E R
DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH A FEAR OF FALLING?
Physical Therapy & Fall Prevention • Upcoming Workshop What Our Patients Are Saying • Exercise Essentials
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PHYSICAL THERAPY NEWSLETTER
DO YOU STRUGGLE WITH A FEAR OF FALLING?
exercise intervention can reduce fall risk A recently published systematic review by Cochrane, comprised of over100randomizedcontrolledtrials,supportsexercise interventions asaneffectivetreatmentmethodforpatientswithan increasedrisk offalling.Theaverageageofpatients inthisreviewwas76,and77% of the patients were women. Resultsconcludedthatthosewhoparticipatedinexerciseinterventions hada23%decrease infallsascomparedtothecontrolgroup.Therisk offall-relatedfractureswasdecreasedby27%,andthenumberoffalls that requiredmedical attention was decreased by 39%. Concluding statements from the authors noted how overall, “Exercise reduces boththerateoffalls…andthenumberofpeopleexperiencingfalls.”
One-thirdofthepopulationovertheageof65experiencesafalleach year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is rushed to the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Fallsarethe leadingcauseofbothfatalandnonfatal injuriesamong older adults. The risk of falling is serious, especially as age-related changes to strength, flexibility, and balance begin to occur in older adults. At Synergy Rehab & Wellness, we will work together with you to determine your unique risk factors for falls. After identifyingtheseriskfactors,wewillteachyouhowtomitigate your fall risk through behavioral and environmental modifications, as well as diagnosing the physical impairments that contribute to your instability. Throughourcomprehensivephysicaltherapyevaluation,wedesign a treatment plan specifically geared toward your needs. If you have a fear of falling or suffer from instability, physical therapy can help prevent future falls and fall-related injury!
synergyrehabandwellness.com
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND FALL PREVENTION
how can physical therapy help? As a patient, your physical therapy evaluation will include several assessments to clearly define their fall risk factors. These may include cognitive tests, assessment of vitals at rest and with activity, as well as evaluation of your gait, balance, flexibility and strength. Based on the results of this evaluation, one of our physical therapists 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 in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement. Some common forms of treatment include: • Pain management. Joint and muscle pain can exacerbate fall risk, so any orthopedic impairments are a top priority addressed in physical therapy treatment. • Gait training. Our physical therapist will evaluate the need for an assistive device, or perhaps make modifications to what you are currently using. Gait training will include activities to not only improve gait mechanics, but also increase your confidence and safety in navigating across different terrains and around different obstacles. • Balance training. Both static and dynamic balance training will be incorporated in physical therapy treatment to help you learn to better respond to environmental challenges to their balance. For example, you may be asked to stand on one leg while performing a mentally-challenging task, such
as reciting the alphabet or reading a paragraph of text out loud. Our physical therapists will also teach you balance strategies to help mitigate fall risk. • Strength training. Muscle weakness, especially around the hips and core, is often a primary contributing factor to poor balance and falls. With strength and balance training, patients are better equipped to recover from unexpected perturbations or a momentary loss of balance to prevent falls. • Endurance training. Endurance training will help to improve not just muscle endurance for activity but also your aerobic capacity for activity, both of which will reduce fatigue as a risk factor for falls. A fall prevention plan is vital to have in place for those at risk for falls. No one should live in fear of sustaining a fall or fall-related injury. If you or someone you know are at risk for falls, contact us today!
Visit synergyrehabandwellness.com for more information, or call your physical therapist at Synergy Rehab to schedule your appointment today!
Sources www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=85726fb6-14c4-4c16-9a4c-3736dceac9f0 www.apta.org/Media/Releases/Consumer/2011/9/23/ www.apta.org/BalanceFalls/ www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2019/02/27/CochraneFallsPrevention/#
You’re Invited To Our Upcoming Workshop! ADVICE FROM A CERTIFIED HAND SPECIALIST With Dr. Meghan Little, Certified Hand Therapist DEC. 2 • 6 PM at the STAUNTON LOCATION Are you experiencing pain in your thumbs, numbness in your hands, or trouble opening jars or snapping fingers? Hear from our Certified Hand Specialist Dr. Little and learn the source of your hand achiness, stiffness, or swollenenss as well as your pain relief options! Need a hand with hand pain? Visit our workshop to see how you can snap out of hand pain! Visit synergyrehabandwellness.com to register for our FREE community workshop.
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT BY VISITING SYNERGYREHABANDWELLNESS.COM OR CALLING 540.416.0530.
Have You Met Your Deductible?
WHAT OUR PATIENTS ARE SAYING:
“I had frequent pain in my lower back, resulting in modified activities. It was really painful getting in and out of vehicles and in and out of bed, as well as bendingover. Ioverworkedmybackdue toexcessive quantityofgolf,requiringneedforregularchiropractic visits. I began using an oral steroid for relief before I wasreferredtoSynergybymyprimaryphysician.After learning and applying constant repetition of specific exercises formypain level. I learntochallengemyself under the supervision of Annie, PT, and Ana, PTT. I was skeptical that I would improve my well-being at first, but after the initial sessions, I benefitted greatly at Synergy thanks to the complete staff, from the PT’s to the PTA’s.” -Tommy D. Meghan completed her undergraduate degree in Athletic Training to become a certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) in 2001 before obtaining her Masters and Doctor of Physical Therapy degrees. After receiving her Doctor degree, she went on to share her knowledge at her alma mater, Marymont University until 2012. She has since also obtained her certifications in Hand Therapy (CHT), Manual Trigger Point and Therapist (CMTPT) (dryneedling). Sheeventuallypursuedacertification as a Lymphedema therapist from LANA Board, allowing her to treat patients with edema, chronic venous insufficiency, lipidema and lymphedema resulting from genetic disorders and lymph node removal after cancer diagnosis. Since moving into the Shenandoah Valley region Meghan has been residing in Crozet, VA, with her two young children and husband. She has been working at Synergy Rehab and Wellness as the Clinic Director in the Staunton Office for the last four years. She specializes in rehabilitationofthehand,dryneedling, lymphedema,makingcustomsplintsandperforming manual therapy techniques for all orthopedic injuries. In her spare time, she is extremely active with running, yoga and Barre. STAFF SPOTLIGHT Dr. Meghan Little, DPT, CHT, CMTPT, ATC, CLT-LANA
An insurance deductible is the amount of money that you pay before your insurance company pays for your medical services. Patients with family plans or those who have hadmajor surgeries or chronic illness are especially likely to have a $0 balance remaining on their out-of-pocket expenses. If your deductible is met, your Physical Therapy may not cost you anything! Now is the time for Physical Therapy! Call 540.416.0530 (Staunton) or 540.932.0333 (Waynesboro) today!
Healthy Recipe Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS
• cooking spray or coconut oil • 1 cup steel-cut oats • 2½ cups water • 1½ cups
• 1 cup pumpkin • 3 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tsp vanilla • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice • ½ tsp cinnamon • ¼ tsp salt
unsweetened almond milk
DIRECTIONS Coatyourslowcookerwithcookingspray,butter or coconut oil. Add all the ingredients into slow cooker and mix well. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir well before serving. Portion into a bowl to serve and top with pecans, maple syrup and almond milk. Don’t Miss Out On This Special Offer! FREE Discovery Session!
EXERCISE ESSENTIALS Try this exercise to relieve back pain.
FOUR POINT TRUNK FLEXION & EXTENSION Start on hands and knees. Arch your back up to the ceiling as high as you comfortably can, and hold. Then, arch your back the opposite direction as low as you comfortably can, and hold. Repeat 6 times.
WHEN YOU PRESENT THIS NEWSLETTER AT EITHER ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS!
Always consult your physical therapist or physician before starting exercises you areunsure ofdoing.
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Call 540.416.0530 (Staunton) or 540.932.0333 (Waynesboro) today! SYNERGYREHABANDWELLNESS.COM
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