Falls Prevention

Falls are a significant problem for the elderly and here at ThreeSpires Physiotherapy our physiotherapists do a large amount of work with our patients to reduce falls. If you or anyone you know is having falls then our physios will be able to help. We offer a home visit service in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Tamworth, Walsall, Cannock and Burton and our physiotherapists will be able to come and assess the property and the reasons why the person is falling. 

Why Do People Have Falls?

There are many reasons why people have falls and our physios are experts are looking at the underlying reasons for the falls. Below are the main reasons why people (especially the elderly) have falls.

1. Trip Hazards: a key reason that we as physios see for patients having falls are trip hazards in the home such as a rug or some leads that are sticking out. The patient has at some point caught their foot on these and had a fall.

2. Poor Lighting: our physios often find that their elderly patients have very poor lighting in their homes and even with good eyesight it is hard to see any obstacles. If you are elderly with poor eyesight and balance, having poor lighting in the home is a clear reason for falls.

3. Bad footwear: as community physios visiting patients in their home, we regularly see patients who have had a fall wearing loose and worn out slippers or shoes that are not providing any support and which are a clear falls risk.

4. Not using a walking aid: many of the patients that our physios see at home after a fall, quite clearly need to use a walking aid such as a zimmer frame but have been resisting accepting this. It is only when they have an assessment by a physio that they accept that if they do not want to fall again they need help with their walking.

5. Poor balance: this is probably the most obvious reason for having falls and it is also the most common. On assessment by a physio, poor balance will almost always be one of the factors causing falls.

6. Lack of strength: as people age they have a tendency to slowly lose strength. At some point this losss of strength becomes critical and begins contributing to the risk of having falls. As physios visiting our patients at home, muscle weakness is very common when looking at why someone has had falls.

7. Poor eyesight: another common problem that our physios encounter with patients who have been having falls is poor eyesight. Sometimes this is caused by worsening eyesight over many years and other times they are either not wearing their glasses or their glasses are very dirty. 

8. Low blood pressure: occasionally drops in blood pressure can cause people to fall, this especially occurs when you get up from sitting to standing and you then experience a feeling of faintness. 

What Can You Do To Help Prevent Falls?

By following the advice and tips below you should be able to reduce the risk of falling but it may not be possible to eliminate it. As such, please be aware that these tips do not replace the need for an assessment by a physio and we would always recommend having an assessment by one of our mobile physiotherapists. With that in mind, below are our top recommendations as physiotherapists, who visit their patients at home, to reduce the risk of you or your relative having a fall:

1. Reduce trip hazards: have a look around the home for anything that is in the way and that someone can trip over. A quick de-cluttering of the home making it easier to walk around will make a big difference. Think to yourself: do I really need that rug that i keep catching my foot on?

2. Good footwear: it is time to replace those old slippers or shoes that don't give you any support and that are flopping around when you walk. 

3. Good lighting: make sure the property is well lit, at least in the areas that the person you are worried about is using. Being able to see clearly will make it easier for your elderly relative to keep their balance and not trip over things.

4. Eye tests: make sure that your relative has had a recent eye test and that their glasses are clean. As physiotherapists we often see patients who have dirty glasses and haven't had their eyes checked in a long time.

5. Blood pressure check: purchase a blood pressure monitor (these are very cheap and easily available) and do a regualr blood pressure check. If their blood pressure is not in a normal range, get in touch with the doctor.

6. Walking aids: make sure that the person you are worried about is using a walking aid. If you are unsure about which type then book an assessment with a physio at home.

7. Balance and strength exercises: having good strength and balance is essential for preventing falls. Doing some exercises regularly will help reduce the risk of falls. If you are unsure which exercises to do then you should book an assessment with a physiotherapist at home.

8. Assessment by a physio: probably the quickest and most effective way that you can reduce the risk of falls is by having an assessment at home with a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists have a large amount of experience with falls prevention and can guide you through what to do.

 

How can ThreeSpires Physiotherapy Help With Falls?

After booking a home visit with one of our physios - this can be done easily by email or phone, one of our mobile physios will come to your home to conduct an initial assessment. 

All sessions including follow ups are 1hr in length and as explained take place at the patient's home. It is our experience as a community physiotherapy service helping elderly patients that having an hour for each session allows for a much greater response to therapy and is especially beneficial for older patients who may fatigue quickly and need longer rest periods in sessions. Each physiotherapy session is tailored to the needs of the individual patient and as such sessions do vary but below is a general description of the process for an initial assessment at home:

To start with, you will have a discussion with your physio (subjective assessment) about what is happening, why and when falls are taking place and any relevant past medical history. Your physio will also look at your lifestyle, nature of any conditions you may have and any risk factors in order to gain a full picture and how best to proceed. A comprehensive physical examination of posture, strength, range of movement, gait and bio-mechanics will then take place in order to determine if the falls are due (in part to a reduction in balance and strength). The physiotherapist will also look in detail at the property and any factors such as trip hazards that may be contributing to falls.

All of the information gathered by the physiotherapist is then put together to come up with a plan of action to reduce the likelihood of falls, this will include balance and strength work, lifestyle changes, potentially the use of mobility aids and also eliminating any obvious trip hazards. After this has all been explained by the physio, any follow up physiotherapy sessions needed are then booked.

Frequently Asked Questions About Falls Prevention & Physiotherapy

1. Which areas do your physiotherapists visit for falls prevention? Our mobile physios visit Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Cannock, Rugeley, Tamworth, Walsall and Burton to help with falls prevention.

2. How soon can you see my relative? Our physios work really hard to ensure that we see our patienst as quickly as possible and in general our physiotherapists are able to see a patient to assess falls within a week.

3. Can your physios assess falls risk at a care home? Yes, our physios have a large amount of experience of working with patients and staff in care and nursing homes and will be able to visit the care home and look at why someone is falling.

4. Can your physios help someone with dementia? Yes, our mobile physiotherapists have a lot of experience of working with patients with dementia. Our physios will be able to visit the person with dementia at home and look at why they are falling and how this falls risk can be reduced.

5. I am a relative, can I attend the session? Yes, of course! Our physiotherapists welcome the involvement of relatives and for reducing falls risk this is especially important.

6. How long is the physiotherapy session? All physiotherapy sessions for falls prevention at home are 1hr in length.

So if you or a relative have been having falls and want to look at why this is happening and reduce the risk of falls and would like home visit physiotherapy, then get in touch to arrange an appointment. We operate anywhere within a 20 minute drive of Lichfield including Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth, Aldridge, Rugeley and Walsall. You can call us on 0788 428 1623 email us at enquiries@threespiresphysiotherapy.co.ukor alternatively use the contact form