Falling down doesn’t sound like a serious issue, but it can be for patients who are 65 or older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that one in four adults over 65 falls down at least once per year. The report also states that such falls are leading causes of injuries like hip fractures among older patients. 

Physical therapy is often used to help patients recover from fall-related injuries. However, you may not be aware that physical therapy-based fall prevention programs are also available. Such a program may be particularly helpful for older patients who’re dealing with two specific issues. 

 

 1. Arthritis

 

As your body ages, cartilage and other structures in your joints naturally wear out. This issue is commonly referred to as osteoarthritis, and this issue is one that a fall prevention program can help with. 

Osteoarthritis causes many problems for patients who have it. For instance, it tends to cause pain in the joints, and this can make it more difficult to maintain your balance. This condition can also increase the stiffness of the knee and hip joints. Increased stiffness can be problematic because it may make it more difficult to lift your leg, and this may make normal actions like walking up stairs harder. However, a physical therapist can design a program for you that targets these arthritis issues, and this can help reduce the risk of a fall. 

 

 2.  Medication

 

For many people, increasing age means taking more types of medication. However, many medications have side effects that can affect your balance. In fact, this can increase your risk of having a fall and injuring yourself. 

Fall prevention programs from a licensed physical therapist may help reduce the risk of medication-related balance issues. For example, these programs can help treat muscle weakness. Muscles are critical to supporting your body and moving, but some medications may weaken key muscles. In turn, this can make a fall more likely. To help you deal with such problems, a physical therapist can include strengthening exercises in your program. These exercises are intended to help rebuild your muscle strength, which may increase your stability. 

Find the best fall prevention program for you at Franklin Rehabilitation

At Franklin Rehabilitation, our team has worked with many older patients, and we’re proud to offer programs that reduce the risk of falls. In fact, we can build you a personalized program that’s designed to offer many benefits, including: 

 

• Reduced joint pain
• Increased joint mobility
• Improved muscle strength
• Greater ability to maintain balance
• Higher quality of life

If you or someone you know is at risk of falls, take the next step to find help. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.