Did you know?
"Like muscle, bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger."
Effective
Physical Therapy
30 Years Of Experience In Maine
Fear of falling leads to reduced mobility, physical fitness and increases ones actual risk for falling.
Rochat S. Bula Cj, Marin E, et al. What is the relationship between fear of falling and gait in well functioning older persons aged 65 to 70 years: Arch Physical Med Rehabili 2010:91:879-84
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately one third of people 65 years and older fall each year.
Tromp AM, Pluijm SMF, Smit JH, et al. Fall-risk screening test: a prospective study on predictors for falls in community- dwelling elderly. J Clin Epidemiol 2001;54(8):837–844
Otago Exercise Program Shows Improved Balance in the Elderly
Martins AC, Santos C, Silva C, Baltazar D, Moreira J, Tavares N. Does modified Otago Exercise Program improves balance in older people? A systematic review. Prev Med Rep. 2018;11:231–239. Published 2018 Jul 10. doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.06.015
Fall Risks
-Home hazards (cluttered rooms, narrow passages, poor lighting, no hand rails, pets)
-Vitamin D Deficiency
-Medications associated with falls (e.g. sedative, diuretics, antidepressants)
-Postural Hypotension
-Vision Impairment (cataracts, glaucoma, acuity)
-Foot and Ankle Disorders (arthritis, bunions)
-Impaired balance/vistibular disorders
Balance Interventions
-Regular Exercise for Balance
-Understand side effects of medications
-Regular eye appointments
-Remove clutter at home
-Have a relative reorganize the kitchen to minimize reaching over head or below the waist
-Use grab bars near shower and toilet
-Use a commode near the bed at night as needed
From The American Physical Therapy Association: Choose PT
This is an an inspirational story of one man who started running at age 55 and with the help of his Physical Therapists was able to continue running into his 70s.
Physical Therapy To Improve Balance
-Gait Training to improve stride length
-Gait Training to improve even stride
-Gait Training to advance to least
restrictive device
-Specific standing exercise
-Specific ankle, knee and hip exercise
-Specific core and back exercise
-Exercise on various surfaces to stimulate the vestibular system and balance response
What You Need to Know
Before You Choose Home PT
- Does my physician feel Home Physical
Therapy will benefit me?
- When is the right time to start Home Physical Therapy ?
- How much Home Physical Therapy will I need?
- Will I do the Home Exercise Program that is given to me by the Physical Therapist?
