How Physical Therapy Helps
Reduced Risk of Falls
FOX physical therapists employ tailored exercise programs proven to decrease the risk of falls in older adults.
Increased Speed Moving About
Speed of walking has been called the “Sixth Vital Sign” because of its importance and relation to older adults’ function and mortality. FOX clinicians can intervene with treatment to improve speed, stability, and safety. Evidence shows that increasing walking speed by as little as 0.1 meters/second not only improves independence, but also increases life expectancy. (Studenski et al, 2011)
Decreased Pain
A complete physical therapy treatment plan can alleviate and reduce common causes of pain in older adults and improve muscle strength, joint stability, flexibility, and circulation. Which, in turn, can enhance the quality of life.
Treating balance and reducing the risk of falls begins with a thorough, patient-specific evaluation. Observing patients in their own homes allows FOX therapists to preemptively identify issues that may result in falls. When we dose therapeutic exercise and balance retraining properly, we reduce balance-related issues and falls. FOX proactively screens patients and gathers information on changes including overall balance and how pathology, impairments, functional limitations, behavioral patterns, and environmental factors affect the ability to move in space. If the individual demonstrates signs outside normative values, we request physician’s orders for a tailored treatment program before an adverse event occurs.
