Falls and Balance in the Elderly Adult Population
The problem . . . Falls are: A common health issue Often have bad outcomes Can be avoided with change
The cost . . . Creates a substantial burden on the healthcare system
The cause… Vestibular pathology Visual deficit Muscle weakness Cognitive impairment Lack of attention to surroundings
Psychological Consequences… Fear Decreased quality of life Self-imposed restriction of activities Social isolation Depression
What sets us apart from other programs? Multidisciplinary approach to falls prevention Audiologists perform diagnostic testing Physical Therapists perform vestibular rehabilitation as needed State of the art diagnostic testing to provide patients and physicians with the most comprehensive balance and falls risk assessment available: Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) Videonystagmography (VNG) Rotary Chair
What sets us apart from other programs? Using the information gathered through assessment and testing, a comprehensive rehabilitation program is created that includes: Postural Training Re-train the balance system Strengthen muscles Restore stability Symptom management Increase tolerance for changes in position Education Fall prevention and safety
The Results To date we have evaluated close to 350 patients (83% of which were age 60 and above) Over 75% had symptoms that indicated a need for Vestibular Rehabilitation Of those completing the full course of Vestibular Rehabilitation with PT: 65% demonstrated significant improvement according to the Dizziness Handicap Index (DHI) Almost all patients experienced some improvement in their DHI score