Do you have trouble staying balanced?

A fall prevention program could help you!

Have you ever been walking and felt unsteady, as if you were going to trip and fall? Have you ever tripped and had to catch yourself with a nearby railing or piece of furniture? Are you concerned about being injured if you fall? If this is the case, a fall prevention program at Platinum Physical Therapy in Ashland, MA, Hopkinton, MA, Milford, MA, Maynard, MA, Norfolk, MA and Rehoboth, MA could help you!

Unfortunately, most people don’t think about how to keep their balance until it’s too late and they’ve already fallen. The good news is that by regularly exercising your balance system, you can avoid most falls.

If you are worried about falling, please contact Platinum Physical Therapy right away to learn more about fall prevention techniques.

Common risk factors for falls

Some people are more likely than others to fall. Among the most common risk factors are:

Diabetes
History of stroke or heart attack
Arthritis or alternative joint pain
Fatigue
Vertigo or dizziness

Being female
Parkinson’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease
Previous history of falls
Living a sedentary life

Overall poor health
Heart disease
Advanced age
Problems with vision
Problems with walking or staying balanced

In order to identify any risk factors, our Ashland, MA, Hopkinton, MA, Milford, MA, Maynard, MA, Norfolk, MA and Rehoboth, MA physical therapist will go over your medical history with you. They will then explain how this will affect your treatment and how you can lower your risk of falling. Following that, your therapist will perform a comprehensive physical examination to determine the best treatment plan for you.

What can I expect from an Ashland, MA, Hopkinton, MA, Milford, MA, Maynard, MA, Norfolk, MA and Rehoboth, MA fall prevention program?

Vision tests, resting and active heart rate checks, gait, balance, range of motion, and strength tests may be part of your initial physical exam at Platinum Physical Therapy. Our physical therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan for you based on the results of these exams.

The following are some common therapeutic methods you may encounter in your treatment plans:

Strengthening exercises

Our physical therapist will create a strength training program specifically for you. This program will concentrate on specific muscle groups that require strengthening. This will improve your balance while standing and walking, as well as your ability to recover from a fall.

Balance drills

You may be required to perform specific balance-based exercises as part of your treatment plan. Two examples are standing on one leg and maintaining your balance while performing an intellectually demanding task (such as reciting the alphabet or reading a page from a book).

Pain management

Any pain you are experiencing will be addressed as soon as possible by your treatment plan.

Training for endurance

Our physical therapist will design an aerobic exercise program for you that will gradually increase in difficulty as your stamina improves.

Walking programs

This part of your treatment plan focuses on restoring your normal physical function while walking or moving. To improve your balance, your physical therapist may instruct you to walk in a circle or complete an obstacle course.