Solutions to Dizziness, Falls & Balance Problems
How BIG is the Problem?

• Falls related to balance deficits are the leading cause of nursing home admissions.
• 95% of all hip fractures result from falls.
• 25% of elderly Hip Fracture victims from falls, die within one year.
• Only 1/2 of elderly people can live alone after injuries from falling.
• Joint Pain & muscle weakness increase the chance of falling.
• One out of every three older adults falls every year; their most common reason for injuries.
• Nearly 8 million people visit their doctor for treatment of dizziness per year and dizziness is the most common complaint of people over 75 yrs old to their family doctor.
• Dizziness causes impairments in daily activities in 20% of community living older adults.

While individual symptoms can be caused by other disorders, here’s a list of symptoms that are common with a balance disorder:

• A sensation of dizziness or spinning.
• Falling or having a feeling of falling
• Lightheadedness or feeling woozy
• Visual blurring
• Disorientation
• Loss of Balance
• Sensitivity to Light
• Poor depth perception
• Ringing, roaring, buzzing or noises in the ear
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetfullness & short term memory lapse
• Mental or physical fatigue out of proportion to activity level
• Nausea or vomiting
• Ear Pain
• Sensation of fullness in the ears
• Slurred speech

"Most Vertigo issues are completely fixable. Medication helps temporarily but that spinning returns. Some suffer believing it comes with aging and figure nothing can be done. Not so."

-American Academy of Neurology

What causes people to fall?

• Gait Instability


• Decreased Strength


• Increased Age


• Impaired Balance


• Visual Impairment


• Decreased ROM


• Difficulty walking 1/4 mile


• Difficulty bending down


• Slow Gait Speed *


• Abnormal Coordination


• Decreased Sensation


• Depression


• Four or more Meds


• Dizziness


• Knee Arthritis


• Talking while walking

* "Gait Speed" is the new "Vital Sign". Improvements in gait speed is related to decreases in mortality rates.

What's the GOOD news?

• Balance is a learned skill and can be improved.


• Physical Therapy can help to significantly improve balance & reduce falls.


• Physical Therapy CRP* treatment for the many forms of vertigo is highly effective.

* CRP: Canalith Repositioning Maneuver

Falls & Vestibular Disorders

"546 people presented to the ER with no known cause for their fall. Of the 546 people, 426 completed a vestibular symptom questionnaire. The results showed that 80% of these ER patients who had fallen with no known cause had symptoms of vestibular impairment."

Our ProgramsVestibular" : "Stop the Spin"™

• B.P.P.V.


• Labyrinthitis


• Vestibulopathy


• Vestibular Neuronitis


• Disequilibrium of Aging

Balance & Falls Program

• Helps those at Risk for falls or have a history of Falls


• Improves functional Balance & ADL’s


• Improves Patient control of being pulled to one side with walking or position changes.


• Helps Gait & Balance issues resulting from Neuromuscular, Injury, or other Medical Diagnoses.

Physicians

Are your patients dizzy, unsteady or afraid of falling? Help your elderly and at-risk patients. Be proactive with Vertigo, fall prevention and balance disorders.