Newsletter by Preferred Physical Therapy Associates, Inc.
HOW OLDER ADULTS CAN REDUCE RISK OF DEADLY FALLS AN INTERVIEW WITH TREVOR MEYEROWITZ, RPT NEWSLETTER Health & Wellness Newsletter (954) 360-7779
Every second of the day in the United States an older adult falls, making falls the number one cause of injuries and deaths from injury for this segment of the population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014 alone, older Americans experienced 29 million falls causing seven million injuries and costing $31 billion in annual Medicare costs.
the number one location for falls. “People can’t take their walkers in because the door is often too narrow, the lighting is poor and if they do lose their balance they put out their hand to catch themselves but can only grab onto hanging clothes,” he explains.
So the number one suggestion to prevent potentially deadly falls is to improve lighting throughout the house, adding nightlights especially on the way to the bathroom, he says. “Many of my patients fall at night on the way to the bathroom.” • Remove all clutter from the floor including towels in the bathroom, phone cords and area rugs. • Use non-slip bath mats outside the shower or tub, and place non-slip strips on the floor of the shower or tub. • Install grab bars in the shower and toilet and use a shower chair to wash one’s feet. • Rearrange furniture in the home so that you can walk safely and unobstructed from room to room. • Do not use a foot stool to reach items in the home. Place frequently used items within easy reach to reduce the risk of falling. • Some medications can increase your risk of falling. According to Harvard Medical School these include antidepressants, blood pressure meds, anti-anxiety drugs, pain relievers and sleep aids. Don’t try to get up out of bed too quickly. Sit up and make sure you aren’t’ too dizzy to rise. Meyerowitz says that you can improve your balance training with a physical therapist to increase muscle strength, flexibility, and reflexes. You can also do simple exercises such as standing on one foot and then the other for 30 seconds when brushing your teeth. Or sit on a chair and get up and down several times to build muscle strength and balance.
Falling — the unexpected collapse to the floor or other surface —has been called the “next tsunami of health care problems” by leading podiatrist and fall prevention expert Dr. David Griffin of Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. Falls are also the leading reason for emergency room visits by people aged 45 to 64 as well as older adults, Trevor Meyerowitz, PT, director of Rehabilitation for Preferred Physical Associates in Florida tells Newsmax. That results in 1.6 million ER admissions each year. And as Baby Boomers age, that number, too, will increase. “There are many reasons that older adults are more prone to falling unexpectedly,” says Meyerowitz. “They develop muscle weakness, especially in the legs. Often the problem is poor balance when the brain fails to get the correct sensory input from the ocular system or the eyes, the vestibular system or the inner ears or the somatosensory system which involves the feet, muscles and ligaments relaying information back to the brain.” Often seniors develop slower reflexes that cause them to trip over something and are unable to catch their fall in time, he says. Surprisingly, closets are
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Health & Wellness Newsletter
NEWSLETTER
BALANCE & DIZZINESS MAKE TIME FOR A MORE BALANCED LIFE!
INSIDE: • Gait & Balance
Whether you have poor balance or have been suffering for a long time, seeing a physical therapist at Preferred Physical Therapy can help you return to a more active and pain-free life. Give us a call today: (954) 360-7779 Our Vestibular System includes parts of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movements. If the system is damaged by disease, aging, or injury, a vestibular disorder can occur. The symptoms of a Vestibular Disorder can be truly frightening and difficult to describe. The most common complaints we hear at Preferred Physical Therapy Associates, Inc. are: • The room starts spinning when I roll over in bed or sit up • A sensation of lightheadedness • Dizziness that worsens in busy environments • Difficulty reading or watching TV • Staggering or losing your balance, especially at night • Difficulty driving
• Relieve Leg Pain In Minutes • Patient Success Spotlight • Most Common Vestibular Problems • Call Before You Fall
Dizziness, vertigo, and loss of balance are common symptoms reported by adults to theirdoctors.What isdizzinessandvertigoandhowcan itbe treated? Dizziness is a sensation of light-headedness, unsteadiness, or a feeling that theworld isbouncyorblurry.Vertigo isdefinedasaspinningsensation. There aremany potential causes for thesesymptoms and if you have them, avisit to yourdoctor isanecessity!Medical reasons fordizziness includeadisturbance in your blood glucose, heart problems, or blood pressure problems. Once your doctorhasruled theseconditionsout, thesesymptomscouldbedue toan inner ear problem, also known as a Vestibular Disorder. A Vestibular Disorder is a dysfunction of the balance organs in the inner ear.The most common causes of Vestibular Disorders are a blow to the head, aging, and viral infection.
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MOST COMMON VESTIBLULAR PROBLEMS
Most common Vestibular problems Vestibular disorders have big complicated names but the following conditions are the most common and respond well to Vestibular Rehabilitation: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a condition resulting from loose debris that falls into one of the semi-circular canals in the inner ear. Thesecrystalsdonotbelong in thesemicircularcanaland theresult is intense vertigo with certain head positions. This sensation of spinning occurs most commonly when rolling in bed or sitting up. This is a very common condition and while the symptoms are dramatic, it is easily treated. Most people only require one or two treatments to completely abolish all their vertigo. At Creative Therapy, all the therapists have been specially trained in the proper techniques to treat this condition. Peripheral vestibular hypofunction is a condition where one of the nerves that go to the inner ear is not working as well as its counterpart on the other side. These nerves need to work at the exact same speed and intensity. When the nerve on one side is a little slow, symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, imbalance,nausea,andtheworldmayseemblurryorbouncy. The most common cause of this problem is a viral infection or exposure to toxic drugs. This condition can be treated by specific vestibular exercises coupled with balance exercises. Over a period of weeks, the symptoms gradually decline until they are gone and full balance is restored. Studies have shown that people who do specific vestibular exercises have a better outcome and faster recovery than people who just try to be more active or do general exercise.
Central vestibular disorder is a condition resulting from decreased function of one or more parts of the brain that helps process balance and spatial information from our joints, muscles and inner ears. Symptoms include dizziness, imbalance, and difficulty walking especially on unlevel surfaces. Thiscanbecausedbyastroke,multiplesclerosis,aging,orotherneurological problems.This condition is also treatableand responds tospecificvestibular and balance exercises, however, the treatment may take longer to achieve the full benefit. People with dizziness and vertigo can highly benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapydoneby theexperiencedphysical therapistsatPreferred Physical Therapy Associates, Inc.. No matter your age, if you suffer from dizziness or vertigo you will benefit from physical therapy exercises to strengthen your balance sensors, reducing your symptoms and risk of falls. Start feeling like yourself again, give us a call today!
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Patient Success Spotlight
CALL BEFORE YOU FALL
The NIH (National Institute of Health) recommends seeking help if an individual thinks they have a balance disorder? About 15 percent of American adults (33 million) had a balance or dizziness problem in 2008. Balance disorders can be caused by certain health conditions, medications, or a problem in the inner ear or the brain. A balance disorder can profoundly affect activities of daily living and increase risk for falls. To help you decide whether to seek medical help for balance or dizziness problems, the NIH recommends you ask yourself the following questions: • Do I feel unsteady? • Do I feel as if the room is spinning around me, even for a very brief time? • Do I feel as if I’m moving when I know I’m sitting or standing still? • Do I lose my balance and fall? • Do I feel as if I’m falling? • Do I feel lightheaded or as if I might faint? • Do I have blurred vision? • Do I ever feel disoriented—losing my sense of time or location? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, talk to your health professional without delay – Call Preferred Physical Therapy Associates before you fall!
This place outshines others! “Unfortunately life took a turn and caused me to need PT. Fortunately, I have met Trevor and his team. Having had PT in NY and in Boca I must say that Trevor and his team (I had the pleasure of meeting with several of his staff) has been an experience like no other! First off, the environment is very warm and friendly. A huge plus for someone who never needed therapy/help before. Next, they are very accommodating - lots of space, therapists, and private rooms when the session calls for it. Lastly, Trevor himself always welcomes you with a smile. He’s always walking around and “in the know” about everything going on - its a pleasure to see the owner be “hands-on”! If you need PT, OTor any otherT, I highly recommend this place! In fact, I travel past other therapy places because this place outshines others!” - Jeff G. NY/Boca (Actual Google Review)
Relieve Leg Pain In Minutes Try this movement if you are experiencing leg pain.
Improves Balance
www.simpleset.net
SINGLE LEG STANCE Stand on one leg and maintain your balance. Next, hold your leg out in front of your body. Then return to original position. Maintain a slightly bent knee on the stance side. Repeat 3 times.
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