For those who have loved ones whom they worry will fall while walking, the experience is quite distressing. You give them a cane and they appear clumsy and prone to falling down with every move. It isn’t safe for them to walk unassisted, but they are embarrassed using a walker. They walk less and less, making them more de-conditioned to movement. Sadly, the increased physical inactivity will lead to further physical decline which may, in turn, increase the risks of impaired balance, disease, cognitive and emotional dysfunction, dementia and falls.
What can you do to help?
For such loved ones, balance assessment followed by balance training is a great intervention. In fact, at FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers we have handled such cases for years and we find that balance assessment and training works for these patients 95% of the time. Actually, the enhanced sense of stability gained through balance training not only prevents future falls, but also immediately provides benefits such as better mobility, fewer injuries, more muscle activation and increased calorie burn.
How do they train?
The key to balance training for patients with a high risk of falling is to provide support and a proper working surface and environment. They will want to hold onto something for support, and the supporting device should allow them to move away from their body’s own base of support through various movement patterns and return efficiently to the starting position.
This is why, at FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers, patients are completely supported by mobile equipment hanging above the training area. These devices allow them to move freely in any direction and engage in various activities without the risk or fear of falling. At first, we suggest movement with both feet on the floor to minimize risk and improve confidence. But should they stumble, they are held firmly upright by the equipment. The training area and surfaces are also design to prevent injury.
Scaling the heights
Balance is a unique system that improves when continuously challenged. In fact, even people who are naturally agile have to keep working to boost their balance with age. At FYZICAL, the body is challenged to maintain proper postural control throughout a series of demands placed upon it, typically while standing still or through advanced transitional movements.
The comfort and support provided allows patients to do simple things well and learn to walk easily. We begin with easier movements such as walking in a straight line. Then, as they get more active and achieve better balance, we make the activities more challenging. All training exercises are on compliant surfaces so there is little risk of injury.
As patients learn to move around without fear, we move them from walker to cane to test their confidence and inspire them to try harder. In most cases, those who make an effort will progress quickly to moving without a cane or walker. But the progress is usually gradual from cane to walker, back and forth, until movement is free and fearless.
Expert guidance
At FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers, we have knowledgeable and experienced therapists to help your loved one quickly gain movement, balance, strength and posture. Our balance training is individualized to each person or task, and always with the goal of boosting their confidence and stabilizing their body under increasingly difficult circumstances. As a result, most patients will make significant progress.
We know that you want to see your loved one back on their feet and active again. You want to prevent re-injury and minimize risks of problems. At FYZICAL, we recognize that balance control is the foundation of a person’s ability to move and function independently. We also understand that balance control declines with age and impaired balance is a major risk factor for falls among older adults. Unfortunately, falling often results in severe injuries such as fractures, disability, longstanding pain, lower quality of life and even death.
That is why we offer balance training that is safe and effective in improving mobility, preventing injury and falls, and boosting postural stability. Our balance training program will give your loved one a solid foundation, help them stay upright, hasten their recovery from injury and prevent more problems in the future. For more information on our balance training, orthopedic rehabilitation and physical therapy services, visit the FYZICAL Sarasota Downtown website.