{"id":25,"date":"2017-06-28T21:25:53","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T21:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new-hackensack-center-demo.mylocalbeacon01.com\/blog\/website_library\/fall-risk-assessment\/"},"modified":"2017-06-28T21:25:53","modified_gmt":"2017-06-28T21:25:53","slug":"fall-risk-assessment","status":"publish","type":"website_library","link":"https:\/\/hackensackpodiatry.com\/website_library\/fall-risk-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Fall Risk Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"col-bg\">\n<h2>Who is at Risk for Falling?<\/h2>\n<p>Falls happen to everyone, but falling has become a particular concern for senior citizens. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), one of three<br \/>\nadults over the age of 65 will fall every year. In fact, the CDC reports that in 2013, over 25,000 senior citizens died from unintentional fall injuries.<br \/>\nWith so much at stake, it\u2019s important to understand your risk.<\/p>\n<p>You can determine whether or not you are a fall risk by answering a couple simple questions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Have you fallen in the past?<\/li>\n<li>Do you have arthritis in your feet or ankles?<\/li>\n<li>Do your legs or ankles feel weak or unsteady?<\/li>\n<li>Do you drag your feet, stumble or shuffle when walking?<\/li>\n<li>Do you find it necessary to grasp stationary objects, like walls \/ furniture \/ rails, to gain balance when walking?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you answered &#8220;YES&#8221; to any of these questions, we recommend you speak to your podiatrist about your options. He or she will likely perform a fall-risk<br \/>\nassessment to confirm the diagnosis and to determine a treatment plan.<\/p>\n<h2>What is a Fall Risk Assessment?<\/h2>\n<p>Fall risk assessment tools have been developed over time in order to better understand why falls occur so they can be prevented in the future. Since half<br \/>\nof all fall victims are likely to suffer another fall within a calendar year, fall risk assessments are crucial. There are a number of different fall risk<br \/>\nassessments available, but the most widely used is known as a \u201cMorse Fall Risk Assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Morse Fall Scale is used to assess the risk of a patient fall based on a variety of safety indicators, including a history of falling, secondary<br \/>\ndiagnoses, ambulatory aid along with measuring your gait and mental status. Podiatrists and other care providers tally the score (based on the number of<br \/>\nYes or No responses). Scores falling from 0-24 indicate no risk, 25-50 indicate low risk and higher than 50 indicate high risk. This resource also comes<br \/>\nwith a list of considerations to prevent patient falls.<\/p>\n<p>These assessments aren\u2019t just given after a fall. They can (and should) be used as a preventive measure. In fact, studies have found that of the one out of<br \/>\nthree adults over the age of 65 who has fallen in last calendar year, less than half actually tell their healthcare provider. Considering falls are the<br \/>\nleading cause of injuries for older adults, a fall risk assessment early in life could keep you on your feet for years to come.<\/p>\n<h2>What Causes Falls?<\/h2>\n<p>Falls are usually caused by a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors are often related to age, impaired movement, and some<br \/>\nmedical conditions. The most common of these include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Muscle Weakness<\/li>\n<li>Gait Deficits<\/li>\n<li>Balance Deficits<\/li>\n<li>Arthritis<\/li>\n<li>Postural Sway<\/li>\n<li>Brain or Mood Disorders<\/li>\n<li>Urinary Incontinence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Extrinsic factors, on the other hand, are related to personal choices and improper use of assistive devices. Other intrinsic risk factors include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wearing improper footwear<\/li>\n<li>Poor footing<\/li>\n<li>Medications<\/li>\n<li>Being overweight or out of shape<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How Can a Podiatrist Help Prevent Falls?<\/h2>\n<p>Because the main causes of falls involve factors such as muscle weakness, arthritis, and gait\/balance deficits, podiatrists have an important role to in<br \/>\nplay in reducing and preventing falls. This is accomplished by creating a fall risk management treatment plan.<\/p>\n<p>Your provider will start by assessing and treating foot pain, identifying and correcting underlying biomechanical abnormalities, introducing exercise<br \/>\nprograms and issuing foot health and footwear advice. In most cases, a typical treatment plan will include the following:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Initial Fall Risk Assessment<\/li>\n<li>Assistive Devices (Ankle Foot Orthosis, custom orthotics, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Strength and Balance Training<\/li>\n<li>Patient Education<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are among the most commonly prescribed lower limb orthoses. They are custom made for each individual to encompass the foot,<br \/>\nankle and leg, finishing just below the knee. Made from high-temperature thermoplastic, AFOs are prescribed to combat a variety of factors, like muscle<br \/>\nweakness and joint instability.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t live in fear of falling! Call today and ask about our elderly fall prevention services. If you or a loved one has experienced a fall, contact us<br \/>\ntoday to schedule a consultation!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Fall Risk Assessment | Hackensack Center for Foot Surgery<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Accidental falls put millions of people in hospitals each year. 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