Ways to improve walking performance and reduce the risk of falls
Dr. Natthaphong Wongwiwat said that falling problems in the elderly are more dangerous than people of other ages. And the elderly are at risk of falls easily due to deterioration of the body Falls are caused by loss of balance. Causing various organs such as arms, legs, head, etc. to strike. And with minor injuries or even fatal injuries The risk factors that cause falls in the elderly are internal factors such as visual changes. Changes in joints and ligaments Urinary system, congenital diseases, including the use of certain drugs that are at risk of falls such as sleeping pills, antihypertensive drugs, etc. External or environmental factors around the elderly It consists of indoor and outdoor environments such as folk, lighting, stairs, bathrooms, kitchens, shoes of the elderly, etc.
Dr. Sakan Bunnag, director of the Institute of Geriatrics for the Geriatrics, added that The most effective way to reduce the risk of falls is exercising to strengthen muscles. Increases the flexibility of bones and joints Helps with balance, walking, and body movements more fluently Causing a fall rate But must choose the posture that suits the person as well For guidelines to prevent the risk of falls, including
- 1. Choose shoes that suit the feet The soles have flowers or not slippery. Flexible material Well ventilated
- 2. Use a walking stick to help with walking
- 3. Regular exercise suitable for oneself In addition, the improvement of the environment in the home and around the house affects the movement of the elderly such as folk materials, lighting, including furniture, should be chosen to be suitable for use. In addition, providing knowledge about the fall of the elderly to caregivers. In order to understand the changes with age Taking the right medicine Eat healthy food to increase the strength of the elderly. Observing side effects If found abnormal, should consult a doctor to find the cause and receive the correct treatment.
Reduce the risk of falling
Improve the home environment, prevent falls The house should be a one-story house. In the case of a 2-story house, the elderly should be placed on the ground floor. With handrails or support handrails Well-lit The floor is flat, not slippery, there should be no door sill. And the placement of items in the house must be organized Easy to access, the bathroom should be an open or sliding door. The toilet is a flat or hanging leg. Have a seat for shower 40-45 cm above the floor, the bedroom should be near the bathroom A bed or mattress not less than 180 centimeters in length, from floor to knee crooked level To get up easily And there is at least 90 centimeters of free space around the bed. And finally, tertiary protection is to prevent repeated falls. Must continually give knowledge to reduce the risk that will occur
The most common injuries among the elderly who fell were falls. Broken or cracked hip bones The head is affected. Which causes disability and has a relatively high mortality rate Since the elderly often have thin bones or osteoporosis When falls, the bones break and break easily. There may also be joint injuries across multiple organs. Together with the elderly Often have underlying diseases such as pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke Therefore resulting in an increased risk
The main cause of falls is that the elderly themselves have deterioration and deterioration of the body. Causing the work of various organs to decrease, such as not seeing clearly Poor balance, weak limbs or may be caused by Inappropriate environment such as slippery floors and stairs Ground level Insufficient lighting Which the basic help First, be mindful. Don't panic. Then evaluate the injury. If unable to move and rise by itself Or when moving the leg and feeling pain in the hip or thigh Or suspected hip fracture Allow the patient to rest in a comfortable position. Try not to move the patient. To prevent fractures that damage tissue, blood vessels, and neighboring nerves Call the emergency hotline 1669 for assistance. But if the head is bumped and not aware To lie in the same position And immediately call 1669. In case of bleeding, use a clean cloth to hold for 10-15 minutes
Walking training for the elderly
Training patients to move themselves Able to use daily life and to walk again is the expected goal of patients with weakness. Hemiplegia or weakness of both legs Patients with fractures from accidents, etc. In some cases, may need to consider supplementing with body support, knee support, ankle support, as well as choosing the right type of walking stick. Assessing impaired muscle groups
Strength training of various parts For the patient to walk with stability and confidence There are steps to practice as follows
Step 1. Begin with Muscle Strengthening. Select specific muscles that are important for standing, walking (including the upper thigh, back, calf muscles, etc.). Moving (Muscles stretching arms The muscles around the shoulder And torso muscles) In some cases, training must be performed to use the remaining muscles to maximize the benefits of the daily mission.
Step 2. Balance training (Balance Training)
Balance with the aid (Sitting balance) while training the muscles above. For those with paralysis, practice sitting up with your head straight, hands on the floor and developing into standing training to train the muscles and the nervous system that control movements for better coordination. Balanced sitting exercises in a straight posture help the patient adjust the condition of the heart, blood vessels, blood pressure and also help the digestive system to function more normally.
Standing balance with tilt table In some patients, physical adjustment is required. By beginning to practice standing on a Tilt table, starting from the supine position, having a body belt, hips, knees, and gradually adjusting the slope of the machine gradually Along with measuring vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate Periodic oxygen saturation values. If the vital signs are stable, the slope is gradually increased. Until can be in a upright position without complications Which may take several days More - less, depending on the physical and pathological conditions of each patient
Standing balance in parallel bars is a practice of parallel bars and posture by looking at the mirror. Patients will be able to see and assess their own standing. Helps to increase confidence And progressing to walk further
Step 3. Ambulation training When the patient is trained to walk, walk in the rail until it is stable. Will be the period that must be started to practice movement and walking outside of the walking rail For patients who are having a bad leg, may need to use a knee brace The choice of each type of walking aid needs to be considered to suit the condition of the patient at that time, such as a foot pad. Knee strap Lower back support, upper part, crutch neck, four-legged walking stick
Bangkok Rehabilitation Center has a team of physiotherapists. Ready to provide continuous care Exercise Body training Procuring walking aids / buoyancy devices Daily safety For ready to return to work, return to society, use in daily life with the highest quality and efficiency
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