Do you know anyone with balance problems or are you concerned about them falling? Seeing a physical therapist can help greatly. Below is a description of new guidelines in fall prevention by the AMerican Geriatric Society and British Geriatric Society.
For the first time in 10 years, the American Geriatrics Society and the British Geriatric Society have updated their guidelines for preventing falls in elderly patients, stating that all interventions should include an exercise component.
Assessments should include the patient’s feet and footwear, fear of falling, and ability to carry out activities of daily living, the guidelines state. Healthcare providers should ask patients if they have fallen recently or if they are unsteady walking. If a patient answers “yes,” the caregiver should diagnose problems such as muscle weakness, poor balance or blood pressure that drops significantly while standing.
If patients have evidence of gait problems or recurrent falls, caregivers should perform the multifactorial interventions described in the guidelines, which include exercises for balance, gait and strength training, such as Tai Chi.
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