The Ins and Outs of a Good Fall Prevention Plan
Have you noticed that you aren’t quite as steady on your feet as you used to be? Do you find yourself avoiding your favorite activities or sticking close to home because you’re worried you might fall? You don’t have to live in fear: National Physical Therapy offers dedicated fall prevention services to help restore both balance and confidence!
If you’re an older adult, it’s understandable that you might be concerned about falling. Falls are a significant source of injury and hospitalization among seniors. Furthermore, the fear of falling can profoundly impact your quality of life, as many people will avoid physical activity out of a misguided attempt to prevent falling.
Fortunately, the team at National Physical Therapy has plenty of experience helping our older patients with fall prevention. We can help you identify and address your specific fall risks, improve your balance and stability, and find ways to get you moving with confidence again.
Don’t let fear of falling keep you from enjoying your golden years. Call us to schedule an appointment today!
Understanding Your Fall Risk
It’s important that every older adult understand their fall risk. Everyone’s risk is different; falls are complex, and multiple factors can contribute to a high risk of falling. The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to suffer a fall.
Which of these factors apply to you?
- You’re 65 years or older.
- You’ve fallen before.
- You’re sedentary.
- You have certain medical conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes, or vascular disease.
- You’ve suffered a stroke.
- You have impaired mobility.
- You have impaired vision.
What’s Involved in a Fall Prevention Plan?
Getting active is one of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of falling. This is why the fear of falling can be so insidious, as it prevents people from engaging in the physical activity that can protect them from falls.
For that reason, a good fall prevention plan is actually a plan to help you get more active. We’ll work with you to identify the areas holding you back from a physically active lifestyle–whether that’s pain, instability, or something else–and address them.
Because we customize every fall prevention plan to suit the patient’s needs, no two plans are alike. However, we’ll generally pull from the following techniques:
Pain Management:
If persistent or chronic pain is holding you back, we can help address pain through manual therapy, gentle exercise, or pain-relieving modalities.
Balance Training:
The cornerstone of any fall prevention plan, balance training consists of specialized exercises that challenge your balance. We’ll increase the difficulty as you improve, ensuring you see results.
Strength Training:
Weak muscles, especially core muscles, are a significant source of instability. We’ll show you appropriate strength training exercises that will help improve your balance while standing and walking–and make it easier for you to recover from a momentary loss in balance.
Gait Training:
Your gait refers to your walking pattern, and you’re more likely to fall if it’s impaired. We’ll help correct gait issues so you can walk with confidence.
Exercise Program:
Once you’ve worked through our fall prevention plan, we’ll help you develop an exercise program, such as Tai Chi or a walking regimen, to get you moving when you’re not in the clinic.
What To Expect During Your Sessions
Your initial appointment will consist of an in-depth physical evaluation that includes the following:
- A complete health history
- Examination of your particular fall risk factors
- Movement screens to evaluate gait, mobility, strength, and balance
- Discussion of your specific goals
This information helps us create the best fall prevention plan for your needs, which we’ll guide you through during subsequent appointments. We provide a space where you can exercise without fear of injury. We also always meet you at your current ability level–although we will help you improve by gradually increasing the difficulty of your exercises!
Find Your Balance Today!
Don’t let a fear of falling keep you from your favorite activities. The National Physical Therapy therapists will help you get back on your feet–and stay there.
Call today to get started with an initial fall risk assessment.
Exercise of the Month
STRAIGHT LEG RAISE (SLR)
Lie on your back on a mat with both knees comfortably bent. Straighten the knee you wish to exercise. While keeping your knee straight, lift your leg up to the height of your opposite knee (45 degrees from the ground). Hold for 2 seconds. Slowly lower your leg back down.
2 Sets, 10 Reps.
As Friday night lights illuminate the field and the spirit of football echoes throughout the community, ensure that back pain doesn’t get in the way while rooting for your team in the stands. Experience the thrill of the season without the discomfort of back pain. Our treatments are designed for your unique needs, ensuring you’re game-day-ready every time.
Get ready to chant, cheer, and celebrate without restraint. Connect with National Physical Therapy today, and let’s ensure you’re in prime shape for every touchdown this season!
- Effective treatments to alleviate pain and guard against future flare-ups.
- Customized strategies to boost your mobility and strength so you can cheer on your favorite teams without hesitation.
- Tips to enjoy those tailgate barbecues and halftime huddles without a second thought to your back.
Get ready to chant, cheer, and celebrate without restraint. Connect with National Physical Therapy today, and let’s ensure you’re in prime shape for every touchdown this season!
September Word Scramble
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Answer Key
autumn
apple
equinox
football
harvest
acorn
Local Deal for You!
Special savings from our trusted community partners.
Hanover Has Moved!
We’re excited to announce that our Hanover location has moved! The new clinic offers more treatment space, and the same friendly team you know and trust.
New Address:
1207 Washington St Suite B5,
Hanover, MA 02339
Phone: (781) 412-1549
If your plan resets in August or if you’ve already met your deductible for the year, you could be eligible for physical therapy at little to no cost.
Whether you’ve been putting off care for a nagging injury, recovering from surgery, or want to get ahead of pain before it worsens — now could be the perfect time to start. Taking advantage of your benefits can save you money and help you feel your best heading into the second half of the year.
At National Physical Therapy, our team can quickly verify your insurance benefits and walk you through what your current coverage means for your care.
Call us today to check your benefits and schedule your next appointment.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I highly recommend National Physical Therapy for all your PT needs! The staff are amazing and so kind and professional, not to mention supportive. Janice and Sam are the best and will work together to make sure you get what you need from flexible scheduling to strengthening exercises and at-home tasks. It’s helped so much, and I am grateful to them and NPT for helping me get back to where I need to be! I will definitely go here moving forward if/ when PT is needed.
Thanks so much!!“
– Christine L.
Indulge in layers of creamy sweetness with these Bananas Foster Parfaits, featuring caramelized bananas and a hint of warm spice. This elegant yet easy dessert is sure to impress at any gathering.
Enjoy This Healthy Recipe!
Bananas Foster Parfaits
Ingredients:
- 2 large ripe bananas
- 6 Tbsp dark brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened apple juice
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups plain 2% reduced-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Peel bananas and cut each in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 3 pieces. Combine sugar, apple juice, and butter in a nonstick skillet. Cook over medium-low heat for 3 minutes or until mixture begins to bubble. Add bananas to pan; cook for 2 minutes or until bananas begin to soften. Spoon 1/2 cup yogurt into the bottom of each of 4 parfait glasses. Divide banana mixture evenly among glasses. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon chopped and toasted pecans.
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Our purpose at National Physical Therapy is to leave a greater impact on the community around us. In order to achieve our goal we want to change as many lives as possible as we become a beacon of positivity in our community.
