Falls Pose a Big Health Threat

In the United States, 65% of adults over that age of 65 will experience at least one fall annually. According to the CDC, unintentional falls are the primary cause of nonfatal injuries treated in emergency rooms – with an older adult treated every 17 seconds in the ER for a fall.

To restore balance and quality of life to older adults and all patients struggling with equilibrium disorders in Hampton Roads, Bon Secours In Motion Physical Therapy offers a variety of specialized physical therapy services with the Balance and Fall Prevention Program and the Vestibular Rehabilitation Program.

Any disease or condition that affects a patients’ mobility is also likely to impact their balance. Patients who are without mobility are more likely to get injured, less likely to stay healthy and their quality of life drops dramatically.

The Vestibular System

Our bodies are balanced and governed by the vestibular system, which is located in the inner ear. This system is responsible for maintaining the body’s positioning; when you move the brain uses information from the vestibular system to adjust, for instance, gait for an uneven sidewalk.

If the vestibular system is damaged in some way, the brain may be unable to process information – resulting in a fall or disrupted response rate.

Balance Specialists in Hampton Roads

The experienced balance and vestibular team at In Motion treat a variety of patients suffering from balance and equilibrium concerns, including elderly patients who have suffered a stroke; athletes who have concussions; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients; those suffering from peripheral vascular neuropathy; and individuals coping with back and neck injuries, diabetes, and poor circulation.

When a patient is referred to In Motion Physical Therapy, the goal of the physical and occupational therapists is to help the patient regain freedom of movement and activity. To achieve these goals, the therapists evaluate each patient thoroughly to determine the specific challenges to the patient’s balance. From there, they work to design a personalized treatment plan to restore proper balance function.

Source: MDNews.com “Keeping Life in Balance”