Balance Brace: Fall Prevention for Seniors

An investment in fall prevention is an investment in your independence.

A recent study showed that each year millions people age 65 and older fall. In fact, one out of three older people falls each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falling once doubles your chances of falling again.

Balance Brace: Fall Prevention for Seniors

So why do you need to concerned about falling?

Well, although many falls do not cause injuries, one out of every five falls can lead to a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury. These injuries can make it hard for a person to get around, do everyday activities, or live on their own.

Additionally, many people who fall, even if they’re not injured, live in fear of having a second fall, which can lead  to a cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker and unintentionally end up actually increasing their chances of falling.

Fall Prevention Facts

•  Falls and fall related injuries are the leading cause of accidental deaths in older people.
• Half of seniors who fall, will fall again within a year.
• 40 percent of nursing home residents fall each year, some more than once.

You might be at an increased risk for falling if you answer yes to any of the following questions:

• Have you fallen in the past?
• Do you have arthritis in your feet or ankles?
• Do your legs or ankles feel weak or unsteady?
• Do you drag your feet, stumble or shuffle when walking?
• Do you find it necessary to grasp stationary objects, such as walls, furniture or nails to get balance when walking?

The likelihood of slipping and falling should not be ignored or taken lightly. Tripping and falling or losing your balance – due to existing medical conditions such as muscle weakness or loss of feeling (neuropathy) – can have lasting and sometimes fatal results.

At Delray Beach Podiatry, Dr. Ian S. Goldbaum, a podiatric physician and surgeon with over 30 years of experience, recommends that his patients utilize a balance brace in order to safeguard themselves from the dangers of falling.

“It’s necessary for patients to be able to ambulate correctly to keep them from falling,” said Dr. Goldbaum, who diagnosis his patients using both gait scan technology and x-rays. “The balance brace is an external device that helps contribute to their alignment. It’s not a surgery and it’s pain-free. It really helps those in need of fall prevention to walk in a more anatomically alignment.”

Helping to reduce the risk of falling by providing additional support for weakened muscles is significantly easier than recovering from a fall related injury — and it’s pain free! Taking time now to avoid falls may help preserve your quality of life in the long term.

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The content on this website is for informational purposes only. Do not rely or act upon information from www.DelrayBeachPodiatry.com without seeking professional medical advice. If you live in South Florida and would like a consultation with Dr. Ian Goldbaum, a podiatric physician and surgeon with over 30 years of experience, please see our contact information below:

BOCA/DELRAY

16244 S. Military Trail #290, Delray Beach, FL 33445

561-499-0033

BOYNTON BEACH

8198 Jog Road #100, Boynton Beach, FL 33472

561-499-0033