Bob Bacci, Author at Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy

Benefits of PT Over Other Interventions for Pain

Seeing a physical therapist first will save you time and money while helping you avoid unnecessary tests and interventions

Every October, physical therapists around the country come together to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. The purpose of this annual campaign is to highlight the many ways that physical therapy can benefit individuals of all ages and ability levels with an individualized approach to treatment. In honor of these efforts, we’d like to discuss a few of the key reasons why seeing a physical therapist first for any sort of pain is always the best treatment decision that you can make.

For anyone that encounters pain or gets injured, relief often becomes the number one priority. There are many treatment options available to address painful issues, and it may be difficult to determine which approach is best for you. But regardless of your condition or its severity, one universal truth applies: trying physical therapy first is a smart move that will usually help you avoid other unnecessary tests and treatments down the road.

Physical therapy is not a magical cure-all that will immediately fix any physical problem, but it does have an incredibly wide range of applications and is appropriate for the vast majority of painful conditions. Every physical therapy treatment program is individually tailored with each patient’s abilities and goals in mind, and by carefully guiding them with exercises and movement-based techniques, significant improvements can usually during treatment and upon discharge.

Physical therapy vs. surgery, injections, and opioids

Other commonly used treatment options for pain include surgery, injections, and prescription medications like opioids, but research continuously shows that physical therapy is a superior option that will save patients money and time while leading to similar—if not superior—outcomes.

For example, one study showed that physical therapy was just as effective as surgery in the midterm and long term for reducing pain and improving function and flexibility in patients with various tendon disorders. Similarly, another study found only minimal differences after five years between patients treated surgically compared to those who had physical therapy for ACL tears. Surgery has great value that can often lead to positive outcomes, and it may be necessary in certain situations, but it does come with some potential downsides as well. These include high costs, long recovery times, and risks associated with the procedure. Physical therapy, on the other hand, is universally regarded as an affordable, safe intervention with minimal to no associated risks.

Physical therapy can also help patients avoid taking prescription drugs like opioids, which are a significant problem in the country today due to alarmingly high rates of addiction, overdose, and death. One study of 454 patients with low back pain found that those who participated in physical therapy had a lower chance of being prescribed opioids in the following year, while another found that those who saw a physical therapist early were 33% less likely to use narcotic analgesics like opioids and 50% less likely to receive non-surgical invasive procedures than patients who did not.

Do Not Wait if You Have Pain – It’s Likely to Cost You Money

The earlier a patient sees a physical therapist, the more likely they will be to experience positive outcomes with lower overall healthcare costs. This is exemplified in other research, in which 308 patients with neck pain were divided into different groups depending on when they consulted a physical therapist: early (within 14 days), delayed (15-90 days), or late (91-364 days). Results showed that early physical therapy was associated with an average savings of $2,172 on healthcare costs over one year compared to late physical therapy, as well as a lower risk for patients being prescribed opioids, having a spinal injection, or undergoing an imaging test.

Physical therapy in hospitals associated with higher costs

Avoiding the hospital for elective reasons like surgery will further lower costs for patients, as receiving physical therapy in a hospital is typically lower than when it is received at a clinic or office. One study compared these costs, and results showed that the average prices were 41% higher for therapeutic exercises and 64% higher for manual (hands-on) therapy in a hospital than a community setting. A 15-minute session of manual therapy, for example, was an average of $58 in a hospital versus $35 in a clinic.

On top of all of this, you can see a physical therapist much sooner than your primary care doctor and many other healthcare professionals. While it could take several days, weeks, or longer to get an appointment with many healthcare professionals, many physical therapy practices can schedule in as soon as the next day. This yields further dividends, since the sooner you see a physical therapist, the better your outcome will be.

With this in mind, if you’re currently dealing with a painful condition of any sort, we strongly recommend seeing us before consulting with your primary care doctor. We can quickly identify the source of your problem and get you started on a tailor-made treatment program right away that factors in your needs, abilities, goals, and preferences.

Contact Us at (559) 733-2478 for more information.

Chronic Pain Treatment Visalia – Is Surgery a Good Idea?

Chronic Pain Treatment Visalia – Evidence to support surgery for chronic pain conditions is severely lacking

October is National Physical Therapy Month, an annual campaign intended to increase awareness of the countless and wide-reaching benefits of physical therapy. Among these is the fact that physical therapy is one of the best treatment options available for chronic pain, an extremely common issue in healthcare today. In honor of the month, we’d like to discuss why physical therapy is usually the most effective option for chronic pain treatment here in Visalia or Hanford, and why interventions like surgery fail to completely address all components of these complex issues.

But to understand why physical therapy is appropriate for chronic pain, we must first explain what it is and how it differs from acute pain.

Acute vs. Chronic Pain

Acute pain is fairly straightforward: it’s the type of pain we experience after an injury like a broken wrist, which is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you that something is wrong with the body and it needs to be addressed. Chronic pain is much different: the pain signals that are sent out by the nervous system continue to fire and tell the body that something is wrong for weeks, months, or even years. It’s believed that this is due to the body incorrectly sensing pain due for reasons related to one’s psychological state and long-term perception of pain. While an injury or damage to the body may be responsible for the original pain message, for some patients there is no clear reason the body acts in this way, which often makes the condition even more difficult to treat.

One in Three Americans Suffer with Chronic Pain Include Those in Visalia and Hanford

Nearly 100 million Americans have chronic pain to some extent, which is more than the number of people with diabetes, heart disease, and cancer combined. We know this because a. we see this search – chronic pain treatment Visalia on our web analytics and we also care for patients with chronic pain. Chronic pain comes in many forms, and has been described as a throbbing, shooting, aching, burning, or freezing pain. There is also a wide array of conditions that can cause chronic pain, including headaches, low back pain, cancer pain, and arthritis pain.

Physical therapists are movement experts that understand the importance of managing chronic pain with a multifaceted approach that considers each patient’s psychological wellbeing as well as their physical state. Other interventions, like surgery, only focus on addressing the physical aspects of the patient’s condition. As a result, even if the anatomical damage believed to be responsible for the painful symptoms is corrected, it does not necessarily guarantee that the patient will experience relief from their chronic pain.

This uncertainty is one of the many reasons surgery is not typically recommended for chronic pain conditions. Others include the high costs of surgical procedures, the extensive recovery usually required afterwards, and the associated risks involved in performing any type of surgery. Nonetheless, chronic pain is among the most common indications for surgery, particularly for prevalent conditions like arthritis and back pain.

Widespread Use of Surgery without Supportive Evidence?

Despite the frequency by which surgery is used to treat chronic pain, it’s been questioned whether there is sufficient evidence to support this type approach. To explore this question, a study was conducted that collected and reviewed the number of high-quality trials—called randomized-controlled trials—in which common surgical procedures for chronic pain were compared to not performing the procedure. The study also measured the number of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) that were supportive of surgery and the proportion that used patient blinding, which is an important component of any robust individual study.

This search identified a total of 6,734 RCTs, but only 64 of these (less than 1%) compared a surgical procedure to not performing the procedure. Furthermore, only 9 (14%) of these 64 RCTs were favorable to surgery, and when considering individual procedures, the majority of studies did not favor surgery. Lastly, 12 (19%) of the included RCTs used patient blinding, which is a rather low proportion.

Based on these findings, researchers concluded that there have been very few studies comparing common surgical procedures for chronic pain to not performing the procedure, and most of the studies that did evaluate these procedures were not in favor of surgery. This highlights an imperative need for more high-quality research that assesses the effectiveness of surgery for chronic pain to support the use of this practice.

In the meantime, physical therapy remains a much safer and less expensive option for chronic pain that factors in the intricate nature of these conditions and addresses them with a multifaceted treatment approach.

Contact us to learn more about physical therapy for chronic pain treatment in Visalia or Hanford, or to schedule an appointment.

Physical Therapy to Treat Knee Osteoarthritis

Study shows that physical therapy produces
greater improvements than injections for knee arthritis

In our last blog, we discussed the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis and examined the role of imaging tests in the diagnosis and follow up of patients with this condition. We also explored why seeing physical therapist for knee pain first is always a smart choice because it will get you started on a movement-based program to regain your abilities from the start.

Should You Consider Steroid Injections?

But physical therapy is just one of many treatments available for knee osteoarthritis. Another popular option is the use of steroids that are injected into the affected knee to alleviate symptoms. Steroid injections are frequently used for patients with knee osteoarthritis, but there is conflicting evidence regarding their effectiveness and how long these benefits last. The guidelines regarding these injections also vary, and although rare, they have been associated with complications like infection and accelerated loss of articular cartilage.

Physical therapy has been recommended by some guidelines and was traditionally utilized frequently to treat knee osteoarthritis, but its use has been declining in recent years. According to one large study, four times as many patients with knee osteoarthritis received a steroid injection as physical therapy before undergoing knee surgery. It’s also been found that steroid injections don’t lead to any additional benefits to physical therapy for these patients.

For these reasons, a recent study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of steroid injections to physical therapy for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers randomly assigned 156 participants with knee osteoarthritis to receive either ≤3 steroid injections over one year or ≤8 treatment sessions with a physical therapist over 4–6 weeks. In each session, the therapist would perform a series of hands-on, manual techniques to the knee and surrounding area that were intended to make it easier for the patient to perform various exercises and knee movements.

All patients were assessed before treatment began and then again one year later with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) Index, which scores patients from 0 to 240, with higher scores indicating worse pain, function, and stiffness. Another outcome measure called the Global Rating of Change Scale was also used to assess patients’ symptoms, with higher values indicating greater improvements.

After one year, patients who received steroid injections reported WOMAC scores of 55.8, while those who received physical therapy reported scores of 37.0. In addition, scores on the Global Rating of Change scale were +4 (“moderately better”) in the steroid injection group and +5 (“quite a bit better”) in the physical therapy group.

Physical Therapy for Knee Arthritis is the Clear First Choice…But Some Still Need Surgery

Together, these findings show that physical therapy was more effective than steroid injections for patients with knee osteoarthritis, as they experienced greater improvements in pain, physical function, and stiffness one year after undergoing the intervention. Other studies have also identified a similar trend, with both injections and physical therapy producing similar outcome, but the benefits of therapy lasting for at least one year. Therefore, physical therapy appears to be the better option of the two since it outperformed steroid injections in the long term.

With this in mind, if your knee is bothering you and osteoarthritis may be responsible, we strongly recommend seeing a physical therapist first before considering other injections and other possible treatments.

Knee Arthritis Treatment in Hanford

For knee arthritis treatment in Hanford, we suggest you skip the imaging test and start physical therapy right away instead

If you are searching for options for knee arthritis treatment in Hanford, read on. I’d like to share with you why our type of treatment is what you should try first.

Knee pain can be seriously detrimental to the flow of your life. Regardless of your activity level, you need your knees to function well in order to get around, and anything that gets in the way can slow you down and throw your days out of whack.

Such is the case with knee osteoarthritis, which is one of the most common causes of knee pain. Osteoarthritis describes several disorders in a joint that lead to inflammation-related symptoms due to the loss of cartilage and other changes to the structures within it. Any joint in the body can be affected by osteoarthritis, but it occurs most frequently in the knees, with knee osteoarthritis accounting for more than 80% of all cases.

Patients who develop knee osteoarthritis typically experience pain that gets worse with physical activity, swelling around the knee, a feeling of warmth in the joint, stiffness (especially in the morning or after sitting for a while), and sometimes a creaking sound that’s heard when the knee moves. These symptoms in turn lead to less mobility of the knee, which make it more difficult to walk and perform basic movements like getting in and out of a car and climbing stairs.

The Pictures Rarely Tell It All When It Comes to Knee Arthritis

Knee osteoarthritis is often diagnosed with a clinical evaluation—which includes a patient interview and thorough physical examination—and imaging tests like an X-ray and MRI. Many doctors use imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions, but the value of these tests and whether or not they are always needed has been called into question.

For example, one study investigated the connection between the loss of cartilage and pain in the knees of 600 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The reason is that when knee osteoarthritis is discussed, there is often an emphasis on depleted cartilage being the primary driver of pain, which leads some patients to request an MRI or focus too heavily on its findings. Results of this study showed that while there was some relationship between cartilage loss and knee pain, it was “modest at best.” A loss of 0.1 mm of cartilage over 24 months was only associated with <1 point of worsening on a pain scale from 0–20.

These findings suggest that imaging tests like MRIs and evaluating the thickness of cartilage may not always be necessary for patients with knee osteoarthritis. This holds true for the diagnosis, which can be reached many patients with a clinical evaluation alone—especially those who are aged ≥50 years—and as patients continue to be examined in the long term. Imaging tests are also expensive and frequently lead to unnecessary or invasive procedures to treat abnormal findings that may be unrelated to pain.

Physical therapy is a smart alternative

An alternative approach is to see a physical therapist before any other medical professional if you’re experiencing knee pain. Physical therapists perform a detailed clinical evaluation during the first visit and generally aim to avoid imaging tests unless they are completely necessary. Another advantage of physical therapy is that it begins right away during this first visit, with less of an emphasis on the diagnosis itself and more on addressing your limitations and impairments with a movement-based strategy. This allows you to work through your problems with guided assistance while developing activity-related habits that will translate into long-term improvements and avoidance of pain in the future.

In our next blog, we’ll look at why physical therapy is a better option that steroid injections for knee osteoarthritis.

Neck Pain Expert in Visalia for Pinched Nerves in the Neck

Pain radiating out from the neck is best treated with physical therapist directed care and if you are looking for a neck pain expert in Visalia, we can help.

When it comes to a search for a neck pain expert in Visalia, there are options. But, who should you choose?

A medical doctor may be hard to get in to see, may run expensive tests, and the treatment is usually drugs.

Some chiropractors will suggest you “realign your spine” with repeated treatment sessions. You may end up thinking (or you are sold the idea that) the only way to treat the pain is with a chiropractic adjustment.

A Model of Treatment Based on Current Best Research and Common Sense

The physical therapists at Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy approach, who are also neck pain experts in Visalia, identify the root causes of your pain – muscles, joints, poor posture/body mechanics, and additional factors that may make you more sensitive to pain (this is called a biopsychosocial approach to the treatment of pain).

We Treat the Cause Then Teach You How to Care for Yourself

The spine contains nerves that send messages to and from the brain and all other parts of the body. For this reason, any time one of these nerves is affected, it can lead to problems not only in the spine, but in other body parts as well. One condition that involves spinal nerves is called cervical radiculopathy, in which pain and other symptoms radiate out from the neck to other areas of the body.

The spine is made up of 24 bones called vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another. Together, these bones connect to create a canal that protects the spinal cord from damage. The uppermost portion of the spine that begins at the base of the skull is called the cervical spine. It contains nerves that carry messages between the brain and muscles in the shoulders, arms, and hands. This is achieved through nerve roots that travel through the spinal canal and branch out through openings in the vertebrae called foramen.

A Specific Kind of Neck Pain – Cervical Radiculopathy AKA, a Pinched Nerve in the Neck

Cervical radiculopathy, which is also referred to as a pinched nerve, occurs any time one of the nerve roots in the neck is compressed or pinched when it branches away from the spinal cord. This is caused by any condition that injures or irritates nerves in the cervical region, including a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. In most cases, patients with cervical radiculopathy experience a burning pain that starts in the neck and travels down the arm. This pain can get worse from turning or straining the neck. Other symptoms include tingling, as well as weakness or loss of sensation in the shoulders, arms, or hands.

Some cases of cervical radiculopathy will get better on their own over the course of a days or weeks, but this not true for all patients. When the condition fails to improve, targeted interventions are needed. Physical therapy is a movement-based intervention that can effectively train patients to overcome their limitations by practicing specific exercises and changing the way they move in daily life. A typical physical therapy program for cervical radiculopathy will include the following:

Manual (hands-on) therapy
Cervical traction to reduce pressure on the nerve
Laser therapy for pain relief
Stretching exercises
Strengthening exercises
Posture education
Functional training

Physical therapy has been supported in the medical research as a beneficial treatment for cervical radiculopathy, with one study called a systematic review and meta-analysis identifying three powerful studies that evaluated the use a manual therapy technique (cervical spine manipulation) for this condition. Analysis of these studies led to the following conclusion:

There was evidence from three trials of moderate quality that supported cervical spine manipulation in treating people with degenerative cervical radiculopathy.

If You are Looking for a Neck Pain Expert Near Me, Click Here to Contact Us

Thus, if you are currently experiencing persistent pain or any other symptoms radiating down your arm that have not improved, it’s a good thing you searched for a neck pain expert in Visalia. We strongly recommend seeing one of our physical therapists soon to be evaluated. Following this approach will help you get started on an effective, personalized treatment plan and a path to less pain and better functioning right away.

Neck Pain Specialist in Hanford – Why You Should See Our PTs First

Looking for Neck Pain Specialist in Hanford? Our physical therapists can effectively address your neck pain with a variety of interventions.

Google searching for a neck pain specialist in Hanford? If so, read on to learn more about why physical therapy treatment provided by one of our expert clinicians is a great first choice.

When thinking about problems that affect the spine, back pain often comes to mind first. There is good reason for this, as up to 90% of people will experience low back pain at some point in their life. But the lower back is certainly not the only region of the spine where pain can arise. Neck pain isn’t quite as prevalent as low back pain, but it’s still a rather common and bothersome condition that deserves its own attention.

The statistics clearly show that neck pain is a major problem in the general population. Neck pain the third most common cause of chronic pain in the U.S.—after back pain and headaches—and at any given point in time, its overall prevalence is about 12% in adult females and 9% in adult males. The lifetime prevalence (the chance you will experience neck pain some time in your life) of neck pain in today’s working population is approximately 45%, which is about half that of back pain.

Most cases of neck pain are due to a muscle strain or sprain of tendons or ligaments (common in auto accidents) in the neck or areas that support the neck, though other issues may also be responsible. Some of the most common causes of neck pain include:

sleeping on your neck wrong,
sitting or standing for prolonged periods with bad posture—especially from leaning over too much
spending many hours performing repetitive movements, and
regularly carrying a heavy backpack, purse, or briefcase.

Biomechanical Diagnoses that are Correlated with Neck Pain

Neck pain can also develop from conditions like osteoarthritis, a herniated disc, or spinal stenosis, or from sudden injuries that may cause whiplash or other problems in the neck.

Primary symptoms include pain that is often worsened by holding or lifting your head in place for long periods, muscle tightness and spasms, a decreased ability to move your head, and possibly headaches. For some people, neck pain is also accompanied by upper back or shoulder pain, and pain in the shoulder may be referred from the neck.

If you happen to experience neck pain, the safest and most effective way to address it is by undergoing a course of physical therapy. A physical therapist will design a personalized treatment plan based on your individual condition that factors in your abilities, preferences, and goals. Each treatment program differs depends on these factors, but most will include the following components:

Pain-relieving modalities like ice and/or heat therapy
Stretching exercises
Strengthening exercises
Posture training
Functional mobility training
Massage and other manual (hands-on) therapies

To illustrate just how effective physical therapy can be for neck pain, a study compared two groups of patients, with one receiving education only and the other following a specific course exercises for the neck and shoulder in addition to education. The results were as follows:

The exercise group showed statistically significant improvements in physical health-related quality of life, mental health-related quality of life, depression, pain threshold and muscle function compared to the education-only group.

This study highlights the numerous benefits that are possible through a course of physical therapy that targets neck pain. If you’ve been dealing with any neck pain of your own that’s getting in the way of your daily activities and the things you love, we strongly recommend seeing a physical therapist first and fast. Doing so is your best bet for a successful recovery and a quick return to a pain-free lifestyle.

For More Information, Click Here to Visit Our Contact Page

Hip Impingement and Labral Tears

For a common hip condition, physical therapy and surgery lead to similar outcomes

All sports carry an inherent risk for injury based on the specific movements involved. Athletes that participate in sports with frequent leg extension and bending of the hips are at an increased risk for hip injuries, and issues like labral tears and hip impingement are becoming increasingly common in certain sporting populations.

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint in which the thighbone (femur) acts as the “ball” and a portion of the pelvis called the acetabulum is the “socket.” Both the femur and acetabulum are covered with smooth articular cartilage that protects bones and prevents them from rubbing against one another. Another specialized piece of cartilage called the labrum provides a suction seal and stabilizes the hip joint.

Hip impingement is a common condition in which excess bone that’s formed around the femur causes these two bones to rub against each other. Labral tears, which are also common, occur when the labrum is damaged from being pulled too far away from the acetabulum. These tears may result from a traumatic incident like a fall or an accident, but are most frequently overuse injuries caused by repetitive hip movement, particularly from sports like soccer, football, ice hockey, running, and golf.

Both conditions can lead to similar symptoms, which usually include pain in the hip or groin, stiffness, and a catching-like sensation in the hip. In many cases, labral tears don’t lead to signs or symptoms, but when they do, it can seriously interfere with your ability to function normally and participate in athletic activities.

Why we believe physical therapy is a better option than surgery

Injuries to the labrum can be treated conservatively (non-surgically), and we consider physical therapy to be the best solution available. A typical treatment program for one of these hip injuries will include the following:

Recommendations for rest and limiting or temporarily stopping participation in sports
A muscle-strengthening program that focuses on the muscles of the hip, core, and legs
Manual (hands-on) therapy
Movement re-education to help restore normal motion of the hip, back, and legs

The benefits of physical therapy for hip impingement have been highlighted in the medical literature, including one study published in 2018. In this trial, 80 patients with hip impingement were randomly assigned to undergo either surgery or three weeks of physical therapy, and were then followed up for two years. After this period, both groups experienced significant improvements, and “there was no significant difference between the groups at two years.”

These findings suggest that patients with hip impingement could expect to experience similar improvements, but it’s worth noting that surgery is associated with higher costs, a greater risk for complications, and often an extensive recovery period. Given these factors, we recommend that patients choose physical therapy because it’s a safer and less costly treatment option for their condition.

Get Started on Treatment for Your Low Back Pain Right Away with Physical Therapy

Low back pain is a global issue on a massive scale that can be illustrated in a few key statistics:

It is currently the number one cause of disability in the world
The amount of years spent with disability from low back pain has increased by 54% since 1990
About 37% of the world’s population experiences low back pain every year
At any given point in time, about 540 million people are affected by low back pain worldwide

Research also shown that the problem is pervasive and very few people are completely immune. More people are affected by low back pain in high-income countries than low- and middle-income countries, but rates are rapidly increasing in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East as well. And although low back pain is more common in women and older adults, it can strike nearly anyone at any age. In fact, one study showed that 40% of 9–18-year-olds worldwide have dealt with low back pain at some point.

But despite how widespread low back pain is and all that’s known about it, it may surprise you to hear that the cause of pain cannot be identified in the majority of cases. In some patients, serious conditions like spine fractures, inflammation disorders, infection, and cancer may be present, which can be detected by certain diagnostic tests. But in the absence of disease or mechanical dysfunction that is known to be responsible, a diagnosis of “nonspecific low back pain” is usually given because there is no single problem found to be causing the pain.

Why physical therapists focus on treatment over diagnosis

This may sound somewhat discouraging if you’re currently dealing with low back pain, but as physical therapists, you should know that the cause of your pain is not as important as you might think. Many people get hung up on obtaining a diagnosis for their pain and go on to have various tests to reach one. But since getting an actual diagnosis is rare, having these tests may do more harm than good, as it can lead to unnecessary treatments like surgery when problems unrelated to the pain are treated.

Rather than focusing on the diagnosis, physical therapy concentrates on addressing the pain, starting with your very first session. With movement-based therapies and exercises individualized according to your abilities and goals, we will work with you on a one-on-one basis and target your pain with a variety of techniques. We believe that movement is a key ingredient to alleviating low back pain and preventing it from returning, which is why we promote a more active lifestyle along with your treatment program from the get-go.

Current research is continuing to support physical therapy as an effective means to addressing back pain, no matter the cause. In one recent study that reviewed current guidelines on the best treatments for low back pain, researchers recommended the following:

For many patients with nonspecific low back pain, simple first-line care (advice, reassurance and self-management) and a review at 1-2 weeks is all that is required. If patients need second-line care, non-pharmacological treatments like physical therapy should be tried before pharmacological therapies.

So if you’re dealing with low back pain, don’t concern yourself too much with what’s causing it. Instead, take action and see your physical therapist now for an evaluation and treatment plan that will address your issues and help you move pain-free once again.

Looking for Fall Prevention in Visalia? Part 2 is About Exercise

This is the second of our two-part posts about Fall Prevention in Visalia.

In our last blog, we provided a brief overview of why falls occur and offered some initial steps you can take to avoid them. Here, we take a closer look at what can happen after a fall occurs and focus on the importance of performing targeted exercises as you age.

A Significant Percentage of Falls are Very Serious

Although up to half of falls only cause minor injuries like cuts and bruises, research shows that about 20% result in far more serious injuries that often require a trip to the hospital. Fractures are undoubtedly the most severe complication that can come about from a fall. The hip is fractured more frequently than any other bone in older adults, and these injuries are particularly devastating because they significantly reduce mobility. As a result, many older adults are unable to regain their prior level of function and will require the assistance of a caretaker.

Some falls lead to head trauma and result in brain injuries as well, which can be extremely serious. Even falls from a low height can cause brain disturbances, and these injuries often go undetected. This is why it’s imperative that all older adults visit their doctor immediately if their head was involved in a fall in any way.

Fall Prevention in Visalia – Here’s Why

The good news is that most falls are preventable, and the better prepared you are, the lower your risk for falling will be. In addition to addressing environmental hazards within your home and taking appropriate precautions when leaving it, it’s also crucial to keep your body moving regularly and systematically.

The Proper Exercises Help…A Lot

Safely increasing your general physical activity levels is a great start, but performing specific exercises will be even more beneficial. As the body ages, it’s natural for strength, flexibility, and balance to start declining, which makes these areas the most important to address. For these reasons, we strongly recommend performing these 5 exercises to help you maintain your functionality and reduce your risk for falling in the process:

5 simple exercises to boost your balance

Stand on one foot: hold a chair for balance, stand on one foot for 10 seconds, then repeat it with the other leg, 10-15 times each
Back leg raises: same setup as #1, but instead of raising your foot, lift it back without bending your knees or pointing your toes, 10-15 times on each leg
Side leg raises: same setup as #1, but lift your leg to the side while keeping your back straight and toes facing forward, 10-15 times with each leg
Walk heel-to-toe: with your arms outstretched, focus on a distant point and walk in a straight line with your heel close to or touching your toe, for 20 steps
Balance walk: use the same approach as #4, but take normal size steps and lift your back leg for one second before stepping, for 20 steps

According to a comprehensive review of studies published in December 2019, exercises that improve balance are best for reducing fall risk, with the results stating:

The updated Cochrane review is consistent with previous systematic reviews that identified greater falls prevention effects from exercise programs that challenge balance

If you’re new to these types of exercises, it’s best to consult with a physical therapist first to ensure you’re performing them safely and effectively, especially if your balance is impaired. Our physical therapists can also provide advice on how to become more physically active and guide you on how to eliminate hazards in your home, all with the overall goal of reducing your fall risk.

If You’d Like to Learn More About Our Balance & Fall Prevention Programs – Contact Us Today at 559-733-2478

Fall Prevention Program in Visalia Part 1 – Why It’s So Important

If you are in need of a fall prevention program in Visalia, we encourage you to read on. We think this information may be of value to you and your loved ones.

Falls…A Silent Killer

Falls pose one of the greatest possible threats to the health of older adults. They are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries and death in this population, and as the number of older adults grows, so too will the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries.

Approximately one-third of older Americans—which those who are 65 and over—experience a fall each year, which results in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency rooms.

Most fractures in this population are due to falls, with over 95% of hip fractures resulting from a fall of some sort. Other bones commonly fractured after a fall include the spine, forearm, leg and ankle, and the risk for these increases even more when osteoporosis—also common in older adults—is present.

Common Reasons Why People Fall

Falls can occur for a number of reasons, but they are often due to a combination of internal and external factors. After the age of 65, a variety of health conditions contribute to falls. Some of them include:

Arthritis,
Dementia,
Diabetes,
Balance impairments,
Lower body weakness, and
Impaired vision or hearing

If you or a loved one has any of these or a combination of these risk factors, your risk of falling increases.

Don’t Forget Medications

Many older adults also take multiple medications, some of which can affect balance or otherwise interfere with one’s ability to stay on their feet.

Environmental Factors

Environmental factors also play a major role in fall risk. Failing to take proper precautions can leave a home filled with potential hazards that can be slipped or tripped on to cause a fall. These include:

Loose rugs,
Clutter,
Slippery surfaces,
Poor lighting,
Steep or uneven stairs, and
A lack of handrails or grab bars.

All of these are commonplace in homes if an older adults but these can be modified.

Do a home walkthrough to identify anything that could contribute to a fall
If a fall does occur, many people go on to develop a greater fear of falling, even if they’re not injured. This can cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness. Worst of all, this process can turn into a vicious cycle that further increases the risk for falling due to these changes. This shows why it’s so important to take the necessary precautions and reduce or eliminate potential hazards in your home. We recommend these tips to mitigate your fall risk:

Wear shoes with nonskid soles and consider using Velcro or spyrolaces
Walk through your home, take note of any obstacles that may lead to a fall, and make the necessary modifications to eliminate them
Install handrails on both sides of all stairways, avoid clutter and putting any items on the floor, remove throw rugs, and make sure your home is well-lit
In bathrooms, use non-skid mats, a raised toilet seat and grab bars as needed
Get your eyes checked once a year, and get adequate calcium and vitamin D
Take your time, be patient and ask others for help with difficult tasks
Stay physically active and avoid spending too much time sitting

The importance of regular physical activity for improving balance and reducing fall risk is continuously supported by medical literature, such as this recent study published in May 2019, which concludes with the following statement:

Regular physical activity including aerobic, anaerobic and proprioceptive components may be practiced in order to promote static balance in the elderly as a mean to reduce future risk of falling

Our Physical Therapists Can Help Reduce Fall Risks

Physical therapists can help you increase your physical activity levels in ways that are safe and feasible for you, which will lead to better overall health and a lower likelihood of falling. And read our next blog for additional tips to help you reduce your fall risk.