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- Helps Avoid Serious Injuries Related To Falls
- Recommended For Arthritis and Other Musculoskeletal Conditions
- Increases Fall Prevention Awareness in Older Adults
Certain people, especially the ones who are aged or suffering from diseases or injury, are at high risk of falling due to cognitive problems, decreased muscle power, poor balancing skills, poor eye-sight and improper proprioception.
The falls prevention program is specially geared towards people who have a high risk of falling or have fallen many times due to these problems.
Falls can be dangerous, especially if they result in head injuries, or fractures in people who have weak bone density.
Falls prevention program provides for a comprehensive prevention plan and therapy options to minimize, if not eliminate altogether, the risk of such falls.
1. The 2007 Falls Prevention Research Summary is an all-inclusive risk assessment which gives information on risk data and trends, evidence-based practices, case studies, patient safety initiatives, and standards and guidelines.
2. The Moreland Community Health Centre and the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) has done research in 2006-2007 on how to improve balance and prevent falls in older people.
Thirty to forty percent of people above the age of 65 are prone to injuries from falling. Falls can result in long stays at the hospital, unbearable pain, loss of social contact, loss of independence, increased medical costs, embarrassment, and anxiety.
Falls prevention can avoid falling which are caused by accidents among aged patients and those who are predisposed due to existing health conditions.
Falls Prevention is important because this program will remove the risk of falls by improving balance and coordination. This are usually problem areas since proprioception is weakened as a result of old age.
If you are prone to frequent falling, participating in adventurous sports, or suffering from arthritis and other bone or muscle related problems, you may want to consider this physiotherapy program.
1. At which age is one most at risk of falling? If you are above 55 years old, you are in greater risk of falls because of lowered bone density after this age. The risks increases after 60.
2. Why is it important to assess the risk of falling? Thirty percent of falls result in moderate to severe injuries and 5-7 percent of falls require hospitalization. An assessment can identify the risk of people who are prone to falling, identify people who may need special supportive devices, and make way for planning exercise programs that can improve the ability of the body to be flexible and resist falls.
3. How can exercise reduce the risk of falls? Falls prevention teaches you several exercises that can dramatically reduce the risk of falls. Reports show that strength and balance exercises over a period of 10 weeks can improve bone density, muscle mass and overcome neurological problems.
4. What are the risk factors for falls? Older people have high risk of falling. The risk factors include people who have low bone density, health conditions like arthritis, poor vision or eyesight, hearing loss, Parkinson’s disease, depression, cardiovascular disease, foot disorders, dementia, and stroke, among others. External factors like poor lighting, hazards at home, medicinal side-effects, poor quality shoes, and slippery terrain.
Patients who are ambulating for the first time or whenever their clinical status indicates that they are at risk for falling must be accompanied. This includes, but is not be limited to, side effects of medications, neurological impairment and/or developmental stage.
An evaluation of medications that predispose patients to falls should also be performed. This includes anticonvulsants, diuretics, anti-hypertensives, analgesics, and bowel preps.
The patient and his or her family must also be briefed and educated regarding fall prevention strategies. This will help identify the common hazards at home and in the community that can result to a fall. It is very important to keeping the environment free of hazards.
Also, patients should wear proper footwear, such as shoes or other non-slip, non-skid footwears since wearing the wrong pair of shoes is one of the most common causes of a fall.
Top 5 reasons to consider a falls prevention program
1. Avoiding Serious Injuries Related To Falls: Protection from serious injuries and fractures, some of which can be potentially fatal, is achieved through a proper falls prevention program. With proper transfers, use of wheelchairs, walkers, placement of exterior factors like furniture and exercises, wearing the right footwear; the possibility of slipping and falling is reduced.
2. Recommended for arthritis: The aged are at risk of arthritis because of weak bone density, which can lead to falls and fall related fractures. Proper balance, resistance, and flexibility training is taught in a falls prevention program which can avoid possibilities of slipping and falling. Ongoing strength and balance training prevents falls in older adults.
3. Increase fall prevention awareness in general public and older adults: The Falls Prevention service identifies ‘falls’ and determines if an underlying health condition was the cause. Medical history and medication are taken into consideration. Participants are educated on what preventive measures to take to reduce the risk of falls; from the right set of exercises to proper footwear.
4. Saving costs: There is considerable amount of emotional and financial strain if one is hospitalized at an old age, following a fall. Subscribing to a fall prevention program can avoid the medical expenses incurred in treating a fall-related injury. Prevention is obviously better than cure.
5. Apt for adventurous people: Adventurous people and sporting professionals are at risk of falls. People with low bone density are not the only ones at risk of falls, there is also considerable danger to those who engage in sports or work in difficult conditions. A fall prevention program can help these people minimize the possibility of injury.
6. Best way to protect oneself during old age: As a result of old age, the bones are not as fit as they once were, and vision is also not as sharp, thus increasing vulnerability to falls and injuries. Falls prevention program can help achieve better proprioception and balance.
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