Move to Live Newsletter by Choice Physical Therapy
Move to Live Y O U R R E S O U R C E T O M O V I N G W E L L A N D L I V I N G L I F E
Spring is officially in full swing! Sunshine and Snowman ice cream...how can it get any better than that? As we are all able to start getting out and about more we’d like to talk about fall risk this month. (continued inside)
HOW TO AVOID FALLING INTO SPRING
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Move to Live Y O U R R E S O U R C E T O M O V I N G W E L L A N D L I V I N G L I F E
INSIDE: • Relieve Your Neck Pain With Choice PT • #CHOOSETOGIVEBACK • Choice Physical Therapy News • Patient Success Story HOW TO AVOID FALLING INTO SPRING
(continued from outside) Among older Americans car accidents are the #1 cause of: death from injury and injuries in general. That’s a startling statistic when you think about it. Makes me think twice about going out joy riding on a fall weekend to check out the changing leaves. If car accidents are the #1 cause, can you guess what the second leading cause is? It’s a loaded question. Among older Americans falls are the #1 cause of: death from injury and injury in general. Falls are a serious problem. Every second an older American falls. One in three older adults reported a fall and that number increases with age. In 2014, falls impacted 46 million people. In 2030, that number is expected to increase 61% to impact 74 million people. Understanding what factors tend to contribute to falls as well as how to be proactive in screening for falls can help turn those statistics around. Here are the five most common reasons people fall: 1. Our vision can decrease as we age which can lead to falls due to not seeing clearly.
Having good balance is a team effort made up of three essential elements. First, your vision. If you can’t see obstacles coming at you it is much harder to maneuver around them. Balance is much harder in a dark environment or with our eyes closed for this reason. Second, your inner ear (vestibular system). This is your body’s “righting mechanism” to offset tipping, tilting, and turning your head. The vestibular system is very complicated but suffice it to say, if you’ve ever experienced vertigo you understand the very important role your inner ear plays in balance. Lastly, your sensory system. Specifically, your proprioception. Proprioception is a fancy term for position sense. Tiny receptors in your joints and muscles constantly send feedback information to your brain communicating where your hands and legs are in space. Without this system working well you can be much more prone to tripping over your foot causing unsteadiness or worse a fall. Wondering if you or a loved one is at increased risk for falls? We’ve included a fall screening questionnaire in this month’s newsletter. If you score > 4 further fall risk assessments should be completed. The testing takes about 20 minutes and can be performed right in our clinic. Don’t let pride or a “busy schedule” jeopardize yours or a loved one’s safety. A fall can significantly impact confidence and independence. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. Knowing whether you’re at risk and what to specifically do to minimize that risk can make a world of difference. All the best, Joe
2. Our hips and leg muscles become weaker making it harder to walk and lift our feet.
3. We can develop poor posture making it harder to stand upright.
4. It takes longer to react when something is in our way.
5. Medications can interact with one another which can contribute to dizziness or loss of balance.
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RELIEVE YOUR NECK PAIN WITH CHOICE PT
Our physical therapists are movement experts, equipped in identifying and treating the main source of your neck pain. They will analyze your posture, movement, and problem areas, in order to determine the best course of treatment for your needs. Your treatment plan will focus on relieving your pain, in addition to improving your posture, mobility, strength, and coordination. Your diagnosis will determine the make-up of your treatment plan, and may include any combination of manual therapy, targeted stretches and exercises, activity modification, or ergonomic recommendations. It may also include additional methods as deemed fit by your physical therapist, such as ice and heat therapies, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation.
Physical therapy can help significantly reduce your neck pain by implementing the following benefits:
You will work together with your physical therapist to understand the goals and expectations of each step in your personalized treatment plan, with the main focus being on overcoming your neck pain and recovering as quickly as possible. If your neck pain has been limiting your daily life, don’t wait any longer to seek help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. At Choice Physical Therapy, we are dedicated to providing you with the tools you need for recovery and relief!
• Maintaining proper posture when sitting and standing.
• Restoring flexibility to your neck muscles and joints.
• Strengthening your mid-back muscles and shoulders to provide support to your neck.
• Improving the coordination of your neck muscles.
www.choiceptny.com
• Educating patients on eating well, by reducing the consumption of processed foods that increases inflammation in the body.
PAT IENT SUCCESS STORY
CPT NEWS
FREE CONSULT WEEK BALANCE & FALL PREVENTION MAY 3 RD - 8 TH , 2021
Have you or a family member been suffering with BALANCE ISSUES?
If so, call the clinic that is most convenient for you to reserve a spot with one of our PT’s!
506 Campbell Avenue Troy, New York 12180 TEL: (518) 203-6761
290 Speigletown Rd Troy, NY 12182 TEL: (518) 279-2740
Circle “YES” or “NO” For Each Statement Below
Why It Matters
YES 2 YES 2 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1 YES 1
NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0 NO 0
I have fallen in the past year.
People who have fallen once are likely to fall again.
I use or have been advised to use a cane or walker to get around safely.
Unsteadiness or needing support while walking are signs of poor balance. People who have been advised to use a cane or walker may already be more likely to fall.
Sometimes I feel unsteady when I am walking.
I steady myself by holding onto furniture when walking at home.
This is also a sign of poor balance.
I am worried about falling.
People who are worried about falling are more likely to fall.
I need to push with my hands to stand up from a chair.
This is a sign of weak leg muscles, a major reason for falling.
I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb.
This is also a sign of weak leg muscles.
Rushing to the bathroom, especially at night, increases your chance of falling.
I often have to rush to the toilet.
I have lost some feeling in my feet.
Numbness in your feet can cause stumbles and lead to falls.
I take medicine that sometimes makes me feel light-headed or more tired than usual.
Check Your Risk for Falling Symptoms of depression, such as not feeling well or feeling slowed down, are linked to falls. These medicines can sometimes increase your chance of falling. Side effects from medicine can sometimes increase your chance of falling.
I take medicine to help me sleep or improve my mood.
I often feel sad or depressed.
Add up the number of points for each “yes” answer. If you scored 4 points or more, you may be at risk for falling.
This checklist was developed by the Greater Los Angeles VA Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center and affiliates and is a validated fall risk self-assessment tool (Rubenstein et al. J Safety Res; 2011: 42(6)493-499).
#CHOOSETOGIVEBACK
In March, our team raised awareness and created an educational video series for Endometriosis Awareness Month. Sporting the color of yellow to “shine light” on endometriosis you can view this 7 segment video series on our YouTube page: Choice Physical Therapy and Facebook page! As an often misunderstood and misrepresented chronic illness, we hope our video series helps to explain common symptoms of Endometriosis and provide resources for those who may be affected by this disease.
Thanks for following along! Gratefully,
Erin
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