Looking for a clinic that specializes in balance training in Visalia? We can help. Read below for more information about our expert clinical services.
Our Physical Therapists Can Help Older Adults Improve Balance To Reduce Their Risk For Falling
As our bodies age, they go through numerous physical and mental changes that can often make life more difficult. One of the most common issues that begins to develop in older age is impaired balance, which can turn basic everyday tasks like walking up the stairs into major challenges that precipitates fear of movement and avoidance of activities.
Having good balance means always being able to control and maintain your body’s position, and it’s necessary for normal physical functioning inside and outside of your home.
A balance disorder, on the other hand, indicates that an individual has trouble maintaining a stable and upright position when:
- Standing,
- Walking,
- Or even sitting.
Older adults are at a much higher risk for having balance disorders than any other age group, as about 75% of Americans aged 70 years and older have “abnormal balance.”
This means that one or more aspects of the person’s balance is out of sync, which can often cause complications.
The risk for balance disorders increases as individuals enter their 70s and 80s due to various age-related changes and other factors, like:
- Increased muscle weakness,
- Joint stiffness,
- Visual Impairments,
- Inner ear problems,
- Spending too much time sitting, and
- The side effects of certain medications.
The greater likelihood of a balance disorder also ties directly into an increased risk for falling, as more than one-third of adults aged 65 years and older suffer from a fall each year. Experiencing a fall and a subsequent injury like a hip fracture can further impair your abilities and infringe on your independence.
Improving Your Balance will Reduce Your Fall Risk
Why do we provide balance training in Visalia and also in our Hanford office?
It’s essential for older adults to take measures that will improve their balance and as a result, reduce their risk for falling. Our physical therapists are great resources for this population because they can prescribe feasible tips to help you achieve a more active lifestyle—a necessary first step—and design personalized programs to mitigate your fall risk.
These fall prevention programs focus primarily on improving balance while also working to increase strength, flexibility, and proprioception (sensing your body’s location in space), which all contribute to fall risk. Specific exercises like the heel-to-toe walk, sit-to-stand exercise, and heel raise are frequently incorporated into these types of programs and can be performed at home as well.
Research Supports Our Balance Training
The benefits of fall-prevention programs have been highlighted in a recent systematic review, a robust type of study that reviewed all the available medical literature on the effectiveness of various programs to prevent falls in older adults. Results showed that programs involving light to moderate exercise training may reduce risk factors related to falls and the incidence of falls in this population.
Researchers also found that the most effective exercise programs were those that accounted for each patient’s specific needs with a personalized approach and recommended that balance training and strengthening exercises should be necessary interventions in any worthwhile fall-prevention program.
Call Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy Today for Balance Training in Visalia or Hanford
So if you or a loved one has impaired balance and you’d like to take action now, contact Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy at
559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment today.
