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Some Statistics. Of people at the age of 65 or older, 25-35% of them will fall one or more times in a year. Falls are considered the leading cause of death of the elderly. Of the elders that survive, 20-30% will result in debilitating injuries. Body Systems that A ffect Balance.
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Some Statistics • Of people at the age of 65 or older, 25-35% of them will fall one or more times in a year. • Falls are considered the leading cause of death of the elderly. • Of the elders that survive, 20-30% will result in debilitating injuries.
Body Systems that Affect Balance • Somatosensory System • Vision • Vestibular System
Common Causes of Falls Environmental Hazards such as:
Other Causes of Falls Include • Inappropriate footwear • Unstable bed or chair transfer • Gait disturbance • Balance impairment • Muscle weakness • Low Endurance
More Causes of Falls • Pain ( injury, arthritis, chronic illness etc…) • Hypotension • Vertigo • Dizziness • Medications (especially multiple meds) • Use of alcohol • Acute illness
More Causes of Falls • Poor Posture • Visual Disorders • Disorders of the Central Nervous System (Alzheimer's, Parkinson’s, stroke, Cerebral Palsy) • Dementia (due to cognitive impairment and confusion)
Visual Disorders such as: • Impaired Vision • Glaucoma • Macular Degeneration • Cataracts • Diabetes Mellitus
Interventions for Fall Risk • Center of gravity control training • Standing balance training • Somatosensory balance training • Vestibular balance training • Eye-Head coordination • Postural strategies • Strength and endurance
Center of Gravity Control • Seated on backless chair • Dynadisk • Balance Ball • Arm lifts – single, double, diagonal • Lateral Rotation • Lean forward and backward • Add bouncing, resistance and perturbations to progress
Standing Balance • Standing Read out loud • On foam toss ball hand to hand • Stand one foot on ball • March with head turn • Stepping over objects • Four corner toe touch
Somatosensory SystemDecreased self-perceptionDecreases ability to sense body parts in both static and dynamic movement
Somatosensory • Seated on ball, dynadisk, backless chair • Weight shift, eyes closed (focus on pressure felt) • Toss and catch ball, follow object with eyes and head • Read while walking • Stand on tip toes reach for object • Standing place objects from one shelf to another.
Vestibular • Progressions: • Seated: backless chair, dynadisk, ball, • Standing: feet on floor, feet on foam, feet together, feet in tandem, single leg • Moving: Arms, legs, ambulation • eyes open, eyes closed
Eye-Head Coordination Progressions: Seated, Standing or Moving Follow object with eyes only, add head, add weight shifts. Direction of eyes and head: up, down, side to side, diagonal
4 Postural Strategies • Ankle and Hip Strategies • Stepping Strategies • Moving Strategies • Pool Strategies
Ankle and Hip Strategies • Chair in front and in back of pt. • (close for ankle farther apart for hip strategy) • Patient leans back and forth • Progress by adding foam, ½ foam roll or balance board
Stepping Strategy • Patient leans forward, backward and sideways until they need to take a step. • Place tape on the floor to encourage them to take bigger steps • Progress using foam, ½ foam roll, or balance board
Moving Strategy • Ambulate using: • Narrow steps • Wide steps • High March • Abrupt starts, stops and turns • Progress: hold object in hands, stepping on to foam or ½ foam roll
Pool Strategies • Pool are a great environment for balance exercises as the provide • naturally occurring perturbations • Patient safety, will not fall to floor • Reduces the fear factor associated with falls • Buoyancy of water provides support to patients suffering with pain.
Strength and Endurance Balance, Strength and Endurance can be worked on at the same time • Use a theraball, ankle weights, hand weights or theraband. • Incorporate normal exercises while on the ball • Pools offer the same advantage
Place colored tape on the edges of steps for visually impaired patients.