Facts were originally posted on the National Council on Aging.
September is Falls Awareness Month
Did you know that one in four older Americans falls every year? Physical therapists at Freedom can help so you or your loved ones do not become part of this statistic.
Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for people over 65 years old. Those numbers double for seniors with visual trouble or deficits. This is because visual impairment adversely affects the perception of the environment and the surrounding elements that can cause a fall.
However, low vision is not the only contributing factor to tumbling over; your overall physique and daily activities play a role too. Understanding the signs and causes of falling is half the battle.
Here are some common factors that can lead to a fall:
Balance and Gait
Loss of coordination, flexibility, and balance is a natural part of aging. This can occur primarily through inactivity, making it easier to fall.
Vision
In the aging eye, less light reaches the retina, making contrasting edges, tripping hazards, and obstacles harder to see.
Medications
Some prescriptions and over-the-counter medications can cause dizziness, dehydration or interactions with each other that can lead to a fall.
Environment
Making modification in your apartment as removing all rugs, bright lights, and pathway obstructions can reduce some risk.
Chronic Conditions
Condition like diabetes, stroke, or arthritis often increases the risk of falling because they result in a loss of function, inactivity, depression, pain, or multiple medications.
The highly skilled therapists at Freedom will do a comprehensive evaluation to determine all the reasons you are experiencing a loss of balance. Your therapist then develops a plan to fix them and decrease your risk of falls. No matter your age, research has shown that it is never too late to improve your balance! Let us help!