Falls and fall-related injuries seriously affect older adults’ quality of life. Falls cause painful debilitating injuries for older adults. With the Biodex Balance System SD, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation therapists can identify and modify the factors that lead to falls among older adults.
Certain people are at high risk for accidental falls and should be regularly screened to help reduce the high number of fall-related injuries and deaths in the United States, according to a guideline issued by the American Academy of Neurology.
The guideline takes into account all available scientific studies and concluded that people with stroke, dementia and walking and balance disorders have the greatest risk of falling. Having fallen in the past year strongly predicts that a person will suffer another fall, and people with Parkinson’s disease, peripheral neuropathy, weakness in the legs or feet and substantial vision loss are also at increased risk for falls.
“Each year in the United States, accidental falls result in 1.8 million emergency room visits and more than 16,000 deaths,” says Scott McDermott, Occupational Therapist at St. Luke’s Hospital and manager of Rehab Center. “At St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center we want to identify and help you modify the factors that lead to falls using our Biodex Balance System.”
“A fear of falling is forefront in many older adults’ minds,” says McDermott. “By utilizing the Biodex Balance System, we can concentrate on rehabilitation and remove that fear. Building confidence and strength only improves results.”
The Biodex Balance System enables the rehabilitation team at St. Luke’s Hospital to perform balance testing and identify fall risk candidates, determine ankle and knee status and determine limits of stability. This system also provides balance training including stabilization exercise, range of motion exercise and weight shift exercise.
“People need to know that falls are preventable, and there are simple tests to determine if you’re at risk of falling,” McDermott said. “It’s important to discuss falls, since some people can face serious life consequences after falling. Issues such as disability and loss of independence may be averted only through fall prevention.”
St. Luke’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center is hosting a free, fall-risk screening and conditioning program Wednesday, July 23, from 8 a.m. until noon. Appointments are necessary so call 894-8419 to schedule your free, fall-risk screening today.
– article submitted
by Jennifer Wilson