By Sports PT Blog Team
This time of year can create some hazardous walking conditions. Ice, snow, and slush make it more difficult for all of us to maneuver, but those factors can be even more troubling for the seniors in our lives. The National Council for Aging Care shares some staggering facts:
11:
Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency department for a fall.
65:
According to the National Council on Aging, one in four Americans over the age of 65 falls each year.
7,000,000:
In 2014, older Americans experienced 29 million falls, resulting in 7 million injuries.
19:
Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
Physical therapists can help individuals with their balance. They can assess falls risk and provide exercises that will strengthen muscles that will result in better balance. If you have seniors in your life who are dealing with decreased sensation, vision impairments and general weakness, let our physical therapists do a falls risk assessment to see if they would benefit from physical therapy.