How to Recover from Slip and Fall Accidents

According to the CDC, slips, and falls are the most common reason for nonfatal, accidental injuries in all age groups except for young adults aged 15-24.  This means that there is a surprisingly high number of injuries this time of the year resulting in fractures, strains, and sprains from accidental falls. This can be triggered by the cold and icy weather.  If you have recently encountered a fall and are looking for physical therapy in Bayside, Garden City, and Rockville Centre contact Movement Concepts Physical Therapy.  We offer state-of-the-art equipment and a star team to make sure you get back to feeling like yourself again.  If you have recently had a fall, consider these tips to help you become mobile again.

Factors that increase the risk of falls

• History of stroke
• Joint pain or arthritis
• Blindness
• Recent hospitalization
• Comorbidities including hypertension and diabetes
• Older age
• Polypharmacy (taking too many medications)

How is fall risk diagnosed?

Your primary care doctor may examine your ability to balance using the Romberg test or “get up and go test.”  A “get up and go” test is a simple test used to measure mobility in people aged 65 years or older. If it takes someone more than 30 seconds to get up from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, and walk back to the chair and take a seat, they are at an increased risk for falls.

How can a physical therapist help?

Physical therapy is key towards recovery and prevention of falls in patients prone to accidents.  Physical therapy offers an outlet to strengthen muscles and train the brain to prevent future falls.

• Balance training – Your physical therapist will work with you to strengthen single-leg standing and other maneuvers to maximize the ability to balance and practice spatial recognition.

• Walking and moving – a physical therapist can help teach the proper posture in walking and running so as to avoid falls when moving outside.  This will help you turn more efficiently and get in and out of the car without risk of falling. This can also help patients climb stairs with better precision.

• Endurance training –  Stamina and increased energy levels are key to preventing falls.  Working with a physical therapist on specific exercise regimens can help to increase stamina and overall fitness to prevent and recover from falls.

• Fear management – often, elderly patients will be more cautious and wary of falling if they’ve experienced a slip and fall accident before.  This keeps them from walking and doing the things that they love. Elderly patients may have endured a hip fracture or leg fracture secondary to a fall.  Working with physical therapy in Bayside can help them regain confidence and increase their spiritual well being by giving them the confidence they need!

At Movement Concepts Physical Therapy, we offer services to help in the prevention and recovery of falls so our patients can feel like themselves again!  As a premier service for physical therapy in Bayside, we offer flexible schedules and a fully certified staff with highly advanced equipment to make sure you have the best chance at recovery.  Whether you have recently suffered from a slip or fall, or you would like to reduce your risk of falls for the future, contact us today to make your appointment and find out more about how we can help you this season!