Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine of Ohio and Better Balance and Fall Prevention of Cleveland Present Falls are Preventable! Our program offers a fast, safe, reliable and accurate method of assessing falls risk with proper and proven diagnostics and cost-effective therapeutic modalities. “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure” Benjamin Franklin

Many falls happen due to balance disorders. Most of those who have a balance disorder problem are totally unaware of it.

Aging and Balance Complaints Common Symptoms include: Falling Dizziness Vertigo Disequilibrium Postural instability Loss of balance “Faintness” or shortness of breath

Balance Statistics 40% of the population will fall during their lifetime – this risk increases with age. 60% of closed head trauma patients report dizziness. 20% of the population have a unilateral vestibular loss. 50% of all adults 65+ have a vestibular problem. 40% of adults 65+ will experience a fall annually. 50% of first time fallers will have repeated falls.

Balance Statistics– cont’d Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among seniors. Dizziness and loss of balance are within the top three most common reasons for physician visits by the elderly. Falls are the NUMBER ONE reason for skilled nursing facility admissions for ages 65 and older. Falls are the leading cause for both fatal and non-fatal injuries in the elderly. Falls are the most common cause of death in the elderly over age 75.

There are more than 350,000 hip fractures annually in the United States. Costs are estimated at $20 billion. The American Geriatric Society recommends all individuals 55 and older should be screened for balance problems. Everyone experiences a 5% loss of balance every decade beginning at the age of 20 That means by age 60 we experience a 25% loss in balance An inactive or sedentary lifestyle may cause lower extremity deconditioning further accelerating balance loss Balance Statistics – cont’d

How do we maintain our balance? Visual cues from our eyes Positioning cues from the inner ear to maintain equilibrium Proprioception cues from our feet, knees and hips

Using our Vision Eyes automatically look for edges like ceiling, floor, walls, corners Our eyes help us orient ourselves AT NIGHT ALWAYS TURN THE LIGHTS ON IF GETTING UP!

Inner Ear

Using our Feet The foot is the only part of the body to contact the floor Proprioceptive sensors in the foot send information to the brain This information travels through other joints in the lower body (ankles, knees, hips, spine, etc) An injury or deconditioning to any of these areas can cause a delay in balance information processing

Why measure postural balance? Helps to obtain precise diagnosis Early detection of weakened postural balance Evaluates for fall risk

Finding Out If You Are At Risk For A Fall Every person age 65 and over should be evaluated for risk of falling at least once per year. A balance evaluator platform is used for a fast, accurate evaluation, taking five minutes to complete. The test accurately identifies the probability of a balance disorder.

Questionnaire Any person testing outside their normative range on the balance platform completes a questionnaire to eliminate any complicating factors including, in part: Medications Last eye exam Last hearing exam Any falls history (including frequency) Any joint replacement surgery Diabetic neuropathy conditions In addition to other factors

VNG Diagnostics For those individuals in which a balance problem was detected while performing the balance platform test, the Videonystagmography (VNG) test is the next step in the diagnosis of your balance disorder. Videonystagmography (VNG) Testing is the gold standard test for vestibular pathology and is reimbursed by all major insurance carriers and Medicare. VNG tests will accurately diagnose at-risk individuals by determining the presence of either a peripheral (inner ear & balance nerve) or central (brain & spinal cord) vestibular disorder.

VNG Technology: A series of 18 tests Patients WEAR goggles FOR THE TESTS A Computer generated report IS PRODUCED

Vestibular Rehab Therapy (VRT) VRT exercises The vast majority of patients identified as high falls risk will likely require therapy to treat abnormal gait and balance disorders. Patients perform various simple exercises designed to increase mobility and steadiness, thereby reducing their risk of falling. VRT is highly successful in the treatment of many balance problems

Improved Quality of Life Patients gain new confidence and much improved quality of life after completing therapy. Greatly reduces their risk of falling. Patients become more active and happy with much less fear of falling.

Each week, more than 30,000 Americans over the age of 65 are seriously injured by falling, and nearly 250 die from their injuries, according to the NSC. Of those who do survive falling, percent experience debilitating injuries that affect them the rest of their lives. A fall can totally change a person’s life. A fall is a life changing health event. When there is a fear of falling, people begin to do things differently. They walk differently, watch differently, and worst of all they begin to limit their activities. These lifestyle changes create a downward spiral, increasing the risk of falls. Quality of life is lost. A fall may require an individual to reside in an assisted living or nursing home facility as their disability has cost them the ability to take care of themselves. The individual who has suffered a fall is not the only victim. Spouses and family members are burdened physically, emotionally, and financially. The best treatment is prevention before a life altering event takes place. As many falls are preventable, now is the time to have your balance assessed and any necessary steps taken in the prevention of you or a loved one from falling.

We have 3 convenient locations in the Cleveland area For more information or to make an appointment contact us at (216) Call before you fall! Thank you for taking the time to learn how we can assist you or someone you know that is experiencing a problem with balance. You will find our offices to be friendly with the focus on the patient’s successful treatment and recovery.