Fall Prevention and Balance Concerns - How Home Physical Therapy Can Help You

Elderly everyday are facing limitations in their quality of life as their ability to walk, dress, bathe, shop, pay bills, and prepare meals can become very limited. Falls are another significant concern for older adults. Falls can lead to a devastating chain of events such as fractures, orthopedic injuries and furthermore increase fear of future falls. Early identification of risk for falling through the use of the Berg Balance Scale and other forms of diagnostic tests are essential. Experts use these tests to develop client specific treatment strategies to help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.

Simple balance exercises performed with a physical therapist can reduce risk of falls and improve proprioception. Proprioception refers to a sense of joint position and is generally a subconscious action much like the sense of smell. With a disturbed sense of proprioception, a person has to look directly at the limb they are moving in order to perceive its desired movement. When ones sense of proprioception is disturbed, it makes it difficult to do simple things that once were second nature. Like any other motor activity, proprioception can be taught.

A home health care physical therapist can improve your balance and walking at home by determining which of the three key elements of balance needs to be improved. Along with the aging process, proprioceptive sense, vision, and vestibular information all decline, leading the person vulnerable to slips and falls. Through proper physical therapy, these losses can be slowed down giving a person an extended period of mobility and better quality of life. Each client should be looked at on an individual basis and evaluated so that proper treatment techniques can be provided. It is not a one set package for every individual.

Improving the balance in seniors can significantly reduce the risk of falls and prevent undue injury, which is especially important when the elderly are living on their own. By having a home health physical therapist come to the elder's home and work on their balance, confidence can increase and lead to improved levels of function. In addition, having scheduled appointments in the elders' home gives them a sense of security, which makes the physical therapy much more beneficial. The necessary time can be taken to teach the elder techniques and simple balance exercise they can also do on their own.

Home health care physical therapists are trained in the latest treatment strategies to optimize ones health and quality of life. It is important to practice these techniques under the supervision of a qualified physical therapist to ensure safety. Once balance improves, progressive home balance exercises will help to further enhance ones condition. Remember always, safety first!