Aging bodies go through many changes. Even healthy bodies with good diets and regular exercise cannot escape the inevitable changes that can come with time: declining muscle strength and flexibility, vision loss, cognitive decline, and more. While we can work to slow down these changes and maybe even make some improvements in our senior years, the truth is that Father Time remains undefeated.
One of the unfortunate consequences of the physiological changes associated with aging is increased problems with balance. Changes in muscle strength and flexibility, changes in vision, changes in your inner ear – each of these can affect your sense of balance. A loss of balance, of course, can lead to falls, and falls are the leading cause of injury for people over the age of 651.
This is obviously not something we want for ourselves or our loved ones, but it is good to know that the leading cause of injury for older adults is something that can often be avoided or prevented. In fact, knowing how important balance can be allows us to work on improving the many parts of body that play a role in helping us stay stable and upright well into our golden years.
Understanding Why Falls Happen
Problems with balance can be caused by a complex set of circumstances. As noted above, balance problems are not just about weakening muscles, and they are not only caused by aging. Understanding that there are multiple factors that can contribute to falls can go a long way toward helping us avoid fall injuries even as we get older. Aside from age-related changes like muscle weakness and slower reflexes, falls can result from:
- Environmental hazards: Poor lighting, clutter, loose rugs, and uneven surfaces can lead to falls.
- Medical and medication factors: Vision changes, dizziness, or other side effects from medications can increase the risk of falling.
- Fear of falling: Coincidentally, anxiety about falling may lead to a “stiffening” response that can increase the risk of falling during dynamic and demanding physical tasks2.
While it’s important to do what we can to mitigate the increased risk that comes with aging, it’s also important to consider these other factors as well. This is why a skilled physical therapist will often go beyond just helping you build strength and flexibility. They can help to identify environmental and lifestyle risks unique to each patient, and may incorporate additional tools like gait training and assistive device education.
The Role of Physical Therapy in Fall Prevention
Physical therapists are uniquely qualified to balance, gait, strength and other factors that can lead to increased risk of falling. This is because physical therapists treat people holistically, taking the whole person into account rather than just targeting specific symptoms. A physical therapist can assess your risk factors and develop a customized program that can help improve your:
- Balance and coordination.
- Core and leg strength.
- Joint flexibility.
- Posture and gait.
Your physical therapy program will be adjusted to your comfort and ability and may include exercises and stretches to improve your strength, flexibility, and mobility. It may also include education about how you can improve other elements of your lifestyle and environment and can include education about assistive devices that will best serve you if needed.
Benefits Beyond Balance
One of the most underrated aspects of physical therapy is the impact it can have on your life beyond the physical improvements. Your improved strength, flexibility, mobility and coordination can also lead to more confidence and less fear. This could mean more time outside, more physical activity, and more independence. This leads to enhanced quality of life and peace of mind for patients and their loved ones. Take the time to build a stronger, more confident, more independent future with less fear and less risk of injury.
If you or a loved one are ready to work toward a stronger, safer, happier future without fear of falling, reach out to a qualified physical therapist to start your journey today. At Strive! Physical Therapy, we have been helping people like you build stronger, more confident, happier futures for more than 40 years. We would love to help you build yours. Schedule a free consultation today by emailing us or calling us at 1.352.690.7777.
Sources
- National Institute of Aging. “Older Adults and Balance Problems.” National Institute on Aging, 12 Sept. 2022, www.nia.nih.gov/health/falls-and-falls-prevention/older-adults-and-balance-problems.
- Young, William R., and A. Mark Williams. “How Fear of Falling Can Increase Fall-Risk in Older Adults: Applying Psychological Theory to Practical Observations.” Gait & Posture, vol. 41, no. 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 7–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.09.006.
