| Pretty much everyone knows at least one person | | | | administration mandated fall risk analysis in 2004. |
| who has fallen. The fall may have been purely | | | | My office checks dozens of patients weekly for |
| accidental, such as a slip and fall, or the fall may | | | | risk of fall. Most know they have a problem going |
| have been related to dizziness. More than one in | | | | into the test as that is why they are in my office |
| three people age 65 years or older falls each | | | | in the first place. Many others however feel |
| year. The risk of falling and thus fall-related injuries | | | | confident that they will score high and are |
| rises proportionally with age. Each year, more than | | | | surprised when they do not. |
| 1.6 million elderly go to US emergency | | | | If you are worried about falling, our office offers |
| departments for fall-related injuries. Among older | | | | a simple 20 second test to assess your overall |
| adults, falls are the number one cause of | | | | stability, and thus your risk of fall. The test is |
| fractures, hospital admissions for trauma, and | | | | accurate and currently the standard used to |
| accidental injury deaths. Fractures caused by falls | | | | evaluate fall risk. My office offers this testing free |
| can lead to hospital stays and oftentimes to long | | | | as a community service. We will also send a copy |
| term disability. With this comes loss of | | | | of the report back to your doctor, so that they |
| independence. Most often, fall-related fractures | | | | know both that you have been tested and |
| are at the arm, hand, ankle, spine, pelvis or hip. | | | | whether or not you are high risk. Those who are |
| Hip fractures are amongst the most serious type | | | | high risk will be accepted as patients and treated |
| of fall injury. They are a leading cause of loss of | | | | appropriately. Of those treated, most will have |
| independence, particularly in the elderly. Only 50% | | | | reduced their risk to normal; the remainder will |
| of the elderly hospitalized for a broken hip return | | | | have improved by at least one or two categories. |
| home or are capable of living on their own after | | | | Because of the human aging process, changes |
| the injury. | | | | occur around the sixth decade that lead to |
| There is high morbidity associated with hip | | | | diminished balance ability and thus an increased |
| fractures, mostly from complications. | | | | risk of fall. These detrimental changes can be |
| Most people develop a fear of falling which | | | | easily fixed with some simple exercises. Since |
| increase with age. This can become even more | | | | most people don't ever get checked, they don't |
| overwhelming for those with a previous fall. As | | | | ever fix these detrimental changes and fall risk |
| such, many will avoid activities of daily living such | | | | just continues to rise with age. |
| as walking, shopping, or taking part in social | | | | Even though detrimental changes occur as an |
| activities. | | | | inevitable part of human aging, falls are not an |
| Many individuals have deceived themselves into | | | | inevitable part of human aging. Getting rid of your |
| thinking that they are not at risk of fall simply | | | | risk of falling, as well as your fear of falling can |
| because they have never fallen, or because they | | | | help you to stay active, maintain your physical |
| do not feel imbalanced. This could not be further | | | | health, and prevent future falls. Call our office |
| from the truth. You see, the problem with risk of | | | | today for more information on falls, fall risk |
| fall is that by the time that you can tell that you | | | | screening, or balance/dizziness problems in general. |
| have a problem; the problem has already gotten | | | | More information can be found on our website |
| severe. It is for this reason that the hospital | | | | below. |