How to Prevent Falls at Home with In-Home Physical Therapy

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How to Prevent Falls at Home with In-Home Physical Therapy

Are You At Risk of Falling? We Can Help You Steady Yourself

One-third of the population over the age of 65 experiences a fall each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is rushed to the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.

The risk of falling is serious, especially as age-related changes to strength, flexibility, and balance begin to occur in older adults. At our clinic, we will work together with you to investigate your medical history, symptoms, and the reasons why you are prone to falls, so we can effectively decrease your risk.

We will help you understand your risk factors and teach you how to mitigate your fall risk through behavioral and environmental modifications, from the comfort of your own home. We will also assess any physical and ergonomic impairments that could be contributing to instability while moving around your home.

Through our comprehensive physical therapy evaluation, we will discover which needs of yours should be addressed within your individualized treatment plan. If you have a history of falls, or you have noticed feeling unsteady or dizzy on your feet, don’t hesitate to contact us today! Our in-home therapists will use treatment and analysis to help identify high risk areas in the home, and will work with you to prevent the risk of sustaining a fall-related injury.

What should I know about fall risks?

If you are at risk of falling, our highly trained and dedicated physical therapists can assess you and your home to find ways to avoid falling and potentially getting injured.

As stated by Choose PT, “Falls and a fear of falling can diminish your ability to lead a full and independent life. Although 1 in every 4 older adults falls each year, falling is not a part of normal aging. You have the power to reduce your risk of falls.”

You may be wondering, “how can I reduce my risk of falling?” There are many tips, techniques, and treatment options that our in-home physical therapists can help you with, in order to help get you feeling steady on your feet and safe in your home once again.

In fact, Choose PT also states: “Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement. You can contact a physical therapist directly for an evaluation.”

If you believe you could benefit from our in-home therapy services to get you living your life as safely and independently as possible, don’t hesitate to contact us as soon as possible. Our physical therapists can consult with you to find out the best treatment plan for your specific needs!

How can physical therapy help me avoid falling?

As stated by the American Physical Therapy Association, “The physical therapy profession’s role in falls risk reduction and prevention is supported by a strong body of research. What we do works.”

Your initial physical therapy evaluation will include several assessments to clearly define your risk factors. This may include physical dysfunctions or obstacles around the home that could contribute to a fall. Your physical therapist may conduct vision screenings, cognitive tests, assessment of vitals at rest and with activity, as well as an evaluation of gait, balance, flexibility and strength. It is likely that you will be asked to perform daily tasks around the house so your physical therapist can look for potential risk factors around the home.

Based on the results of this evaluation, one of our in-home physical therapists will design a treatment plan around your specific needs.  These plans are aimed first and foremost at reducing your risk of falling, but they will also aid in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement within the home.

Your physical therapist may also recommend ergonomic recommendations around the home or orthotic assists to help with movement. As needed, lifestyle changes may also be suggested. This will all help in reducing your risk of falling so you can move around your home as freely and independently as possible – without fear of becoming unsteady.

How can I get started?

If you or a loved one is having trouble moving around at home and you are worried about the risk of a potential fall, contact Paul Wiener Physical Therapy today to set up an initial consultation. One of our dedicated in-home physical therapists will provide the necessary care to move freely once again and reduce the risk of falling!

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