Many older American’s fear falling, and there’s good reason for this. According to the National Institute on Aging, more than one in three people 65 years or older fall each year, with the risk of falling — and fall-related problems — rising with age. However, many Americans don’t necessarily know what puts them at risk of falling. Predicting and preventing falls is one of the key areas physical therapists consider when they perform annual physical therapy assessment, says physical therapist and geriatric certified specialist Paul Gardner, Administrator of Innovate Physical Therapy, serving the greater Omaha area.
“We generally serve the senior population at our facilities,” Gardner said. “We realized that we often see patients after an episode, such as a fall, for the first time. We wondered how to move that conversation to identifying how to predict and prevent the most common reasons, like falls, for an older person to begin to decline and experience an episode.”
That’s the goal behind Innovate Physical Therapy’s new Annual Physical Therapy assessment program. Launched in August, the assessments are based on a Moving Target Screen developed by Dr. Carole Lewis, a national leader in physical therapy and gerontology. The goals are to establish a baseline for fitness, spot problems as they emerge and suggest exercise programs to address the problem areas. The assessment features tests in five core areas: balance, posture, strength, flexibility and endurance. For example, one test measures velocity, which is a key predictor of fall risk. If a person is walking at a slower speed, he or she is moving less efficiently and taking shorter steps. Shorter steps translate into the risk of stumbling, stumbling leads to a falls, and falls lead to fractures, which, in turn, often lead to hospitalization. Once an older person is hospitalized, the onset of decline happens more quickly and more severely. “A person will start limiting their movement, have trouble managing their environment and withdraw from their communities,” Gardner said. “It’s a cycle that leads to weakening and being at even higher risk. So if we know someone is a fall risk, we can help mitigate that.”
Assessments also include discussions about ways to manage environments to prevent falls (i.e., remove rugs or install handrails), or to encourage the use of devices (i.e., a cane or walker) to help a person steady themselves. At the same time, the physical therapist will recommend exercises that will help patients address their bodies’ weakness and better incorporate fitness into their routine. Following an annual physical therapy assessment, all patients will walk away with a general idea of their physical fitness, specific exercises to strengthen areas of weakness based on their assessment results and (if needed) recommendation to work with a physical therapist, physician or specialist in order to maintain an optimal quality of life. Perhaps the most important takeaway, says Gardner, is the understanding that as people age, the things they take for granted – things like balance, posture, strength, flexibility and endurance – often weaken. “Being aware means being prepared to take steps to prevent accidents like a fall,” he said.
Learn more about the value of an annual physical therapy assessment and how it can help you live your best life by calling the Innovate Physical Therapy team at (402) 682-4210.
*Information provided in Innovate’s Therapy Thoughts newsletter and online blog posts is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace advice, treatment or a diagnosis from a certified medical professional. Please consult your health care provider with any health related issues.
