Ready & Steady – A Plan for Better Balance is another Pines of Sarasota outreach program. We are raising awareness in our community of the critical need for falls prevention in older adults in order to prolong their lives and quality of life. Take our free falls risk assessment and get a recommended action plan from our certified rehabilitation therapists about how you can lessen your risk of falls.
Steps Towards Prevention
We have all experienced a loss of balance at one point or another. With age that loss can have greater consequences.
How Common Are Falls?
According to the CDC and the National Council on Aging, every 13 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for injuries that are the result of a fall. On average, I see 15 patients per week with injuries that are the result of a fall. Once a patient falls, it’s a very serious event with in- juries that range from broken hips to head trauma. With 10 years in orthopedic medicine and sports medicine, I’ve seen falls drastically alter a patient’s quality of life.
Community Resources Are Available
We have great resources in our community like the falls prevention and balance program at Pines of Sarasota. Their program assesses risks that could lead to falls that are both mechanical and non-mechanical. Pines of Sarasota does this risk assessment as a community service. It is complimentary. No charge. The name of it is Ready & Steady – A Plan for Better Balance.
It’s a really solid program and I recommend it because of its comprehensive process which includes:
- A CDC questionnaire about activity levels, medications and health conditions.
- A “Timed Up and Go” test. With this timed test, a person gets up from a seated position, walks 10 feet, then returns to the chair and sits down.
- The final test uses the BIODEX balance system for three 20-second trial exercises. These three steps are evaluated and recommendations are provided. If you know what your weaknesses and your risk of falling are, and you take a proactive approach to restoring your balance, it’s easier to prevent a fall.
Prevention Is Key
Preventing a fall with simple education and, if indicated, with treatment therapy, far outweighs the consequences of a fall. If you can pinpoint the problems before they happen and take steps to mitigate a fall, that will do a lot more to better a patient’s lifestyle and their overall health than treating the injury after the fact. Bottom line – be proactive in assessing and keeping your balance.