Quick facts
It is estimated that around 47% of older adults age 60 and above has had a fall in Malaysia and the most common location is by the staircase or in the toilet.
A few factors that can increase the risk of falling are: clutters, door mats, dizziness, steps/thresholds, lighting, vision and weakness.
Here’s a quick question, which above risk factor was the most frequent reason for a fall? The answer is: WEAKNESS!
A research done in the accident and emergency department in Singapore found that a fall often led to wrist and elbow fractures, hip fractures, contusions/ abrasions of the trunk or a spinal fracture.
On top of that, a fall can also lead to:
Bruises
Abrasions
Lacerations
Brain injuries
Fear of falling
Immobility > Bed ridden
Reduced quality of life
So, what can we do now?
In this article, we have explored the dangers of a fall and some of the risk factors mentioned are changeable. We will now focus on fall prevention or elderly physiotherapy and the best professional to engage is a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist has in depth knowledge on anatomy, physiology, pathology (disease) and human movement. They are able to help you achieve your physical health goals even if you have a health condition.
At Ace Physiotherapy, we have many years of experience in rehabilitating the elderly that had a fall/ fracture or in helping the elderly to prevent falls. Our fall prevention programme was created to improve reaction, balance, and strength. The programme used to be a group class but it has been adapted into individual sessions. Whether you have a health condition, live with pain or are sedentary, the physiotherapist will tailor the programme according to your physical level. You can expect some physiotherapy homework, lots of education and an abundance of health benefits from the programme.
Why did we start the fall prevention programme?
The fall prevention was started simply because it is found to be an effective method to prevent falls and it is cost effective.
The benefits of the fall prevention programme are:
Prevention is better than cure.
It keeps the elderly active.
It preserves the elderly's brain matter.
It is cost-effective for the patient since any kind of hip or spine surgery will cost a huge some of money.
It promotes self-confidence and self-management.
You can contact us here, on our whatsapp or email and we will answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for reading!
Lian Yun-Perng
Chartered Physiotherapist
Ace Physiotherapy
