Slip and fall injuries can potentially cause serious injuries in elderly patients. It’s essential to be proactive about preventing or lessening the severity of slip and fall accidents and physical therapy is a great way to do that. In this physical therapy education article, we are going to offer some tips for fall prevention among elderly patients.
The Dangers of Falling
Most people don’t consider slipping and falling down to be cause for alarm. As kids and young adults, we often fall down and get right back up with nothing more than minor scrapes and bruises. But for many elderly patients, falls can cause serious injury. Our bodies naturally break down with age, making a once seemingly indestructible body susceptible to damage from minor fall episodes.
Here are some of the common injuries that can result from a fall:
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Bruises, cuts, and scrapes
- Sprains and strains
How Physical Therapy can Help
So how can physical therapy help prevent falls?
Physical therapy can help identify muscle weaknesses, and help patients build their strength in a strategic manner. In turn, this helps patients feel more comfortable in their movements and decreases the likelihood of falls and subsequent injuries.
Prevention is excellent, but sometimes even the most prepared person can experience a fall. Physical therapy can also be a helpful recovery tool in patients who do experience fall injuries.
Top-Notch Physical Therapy Care
OrthoRehab Specialists works to provide top-notch physical therapy care to patients throughout Minnesota. Our physical therapists are highly respected – with more than 600 local providers regularly referring their patients to our clinics. Even if you can’t get a referral for physical therapy – don’t worry! We offer direct access to physical therapy care to patients living in the state of Minnesota. Contact our physical therapists today to set up an appointment at our Edina or Minneapolis clinics.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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