PATIENT of the MONTH
Feel Yourself Taking a Tumble?
Glen Gomes
TRY THESE TRICKS TO PROTECT YOUR BRAIN!
Taking a fall is one of the most common causes of a deadly traumatic brain injury (TBI). This is a pretty scary statistic, considering 1 in 10 adults fall at least once a year, and we all live in a world filled with tripping hazards! Not every fall is deadly, but about 1 in 5 can cause a serious injury. Fortunately, you can do a few things to protect your brain if you feel yourself starting to tumble. The insurance company Lawley recommends these: • Tucking your chin and lowering your head • Turning your head to the side if you’re falling face first • Protecting your head with your arms while keeping your arms and legs bent to spread out the impact (Don’t fall on only your arms or hands — you could break them!) • Trying to land on your side
“I chose the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association because my aunt, Hazel Davis, loved this charity. I have had family members who have suffered from this disease. My twin brother, Greg Gomes, suffered a stroke. I have lost my uncle Julius Davis, uncle John Ritter, and my father Elvin Ritter all from heart/stroke disease. So, on their behalf, I would like to thank you for making this donation to the American Heart and American Stroke Association.” -Glen Glen has been in physical therapy after having a significant surgery and has been working hard to regain his strength, his ability to walk unassisted, and to manage the pain. He brings his positive attitude and strong work ethic with him each day to the clinic (as well as with his exercises at home), all while encouraging others in recovery as he works on his own. In recognition of this attitude, Glen is October’s Patient of the Month. Keep up the strong work, Glen! We at Professional Physical Therapy would be honored to donate to the charity of your choice if you become our next Patient of the Month!
• Relaxing your body • Rolling after impact
In addition to TBIs, many falls also cause hip fractures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 800,000 patients are hospitalized because of fall injuries — almost always for TBIs or hip fractures — every single year. To prevent those, try to make sure your floors at home are clutter-free and be careful on ice during winter. Of course, these techniques are a last resort. Ideally, you should prevent falls long before you feel yourself teetering: Strengthen the muscles that help you balance on your feet, like your core, lower back, and legs with simple home exercises. You can visit NHS.uk/ Live-Well/Exercise/Balance-Exercises for an easy visual guide or turn to a physical therapist for help. If you’re young and athletic, you may not need a PT, but physical therapy can be a great option for older adults already experiencing balance problems or people recovering from an illness or injury. In these cases, it’s best to work with a professional to ensure you don’t hurt yourself in your quest for better balance! They’ll create a customized treatment plan for you, which will protect you from overdoing it.
2 www.proptinc.com • 508-528-6100
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