Magnolia Physical Therapy_Balance Month

Newsletter Magnolia Physical Therapy

Don’t Let Bad Balance Sink Your Lifestyle

Can you close your eyes and stand steady on one leg for 10 seconds? If not, then your balance is not up to par.

www.magnoliatherapyla.com facebook.com/MagnoliaTherapy

Freedom From Pain

Newsletter

BALANCE AWARENESS MONTH

INSIDE: • How is Your Balance? • 9 Ways To Prevent Falls At Home • Patient Results • Fall Recipe

How is Your Balance? Your ability to balance is an incredibly complex action that requires millions of nerves and hundreds of muscles to work together to stop you from falling. Many people think having poor balance happens in just older people. However, poor balance is one of the leading causes for sports injuries, chronic back pain and much more. Having poor balance often goes undetected until it is very severe and puts one at exceptional risk for injury. It is even worse for older adults, especially over age 65, of which one third fall each year. People who experience a fall are at increased risk for future falls too. Major injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and soft tissue injuries, occur in about 10% of individual falls. However, minor injuries are much more common. Balance and walking decline as you age. Fear can develop of going up steps or curbs, walking on grass or walking into dark areas. One reason for this loss of balance is joint stiffness and weakness inmuscles of the hips, lower extremities and feet. When there is a loss of the mobility in the ankle joint and multiple joints of the foot, you cannot adapt well to uneven terrain. We can help you regain your balance, walk and even run better! To learn more about our balance program, and restoring you to a pain-free life, call us today!

Inabilitytostandorsitcomfortablyfor longperiods of time Difficulty getting in and out of bed Trouble sleeping Difficulty completing everyday activities and tasks Trouble with balance or unsteadiness Unable to enjoy leisure activities Unable to physically play with children or grandchildren Limited ability to exercise Unable to work Difficulty going up and down steps or curbs Dizziness There are many consequences to not getting the help you need and delaying physical therapy. If you find that you have the following because of pain, call us today! Do You Have These Troubles?

Harahan: (504) 733-0254 Marigny: (504) 943-8026 Uptown: (504) 309-5460 Freret: (504) 309-9400 CBD: (504) 733-0254 CALL TODAY!

www.magnoliatherapyla.com f acebook.com/MagnoliaTherapy

This doesn’t have to involve a complete house remodel. You can make your home safe from falls with just a few basic changes. Senior care experts offer the following advice for preventing falls at home: 9 WAYS TO PREVENT FALLS AT HOME

1. Clean up clutter. The easiest method for preventing falls is to keep your home neat and tidy. Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines, especially from hallways and staircases. 2. Repair or remove tripping hazards. Sometimes home fixtures can contribute to falls, which can then lead to back pain and other injuries. Examine every room and hallway, looking for items such as loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, remove, or replace those items for more effective fall prevention. 3. Install grab bars and handrails. These safety devices are crucial for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and stepping in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Install grab bars by toilets and bathtubs and handrails in stairways and hallways. Have a handyman or family member help with this if necessary. 4. Avoid wearing loose clothing. You want to feel comfortable at home, but baggy clothes can sometimes make you more likely to fall. Opt for better-fitting and properly hemmed clothing that doesn’t bunch up or drag on the ground. 5. Light it right. Inadequate lighting is another major hazard. To create a home that’s more suitable for the elderly, install brighter light bulbs where needed,

8. Live on one level. Even with precautions like guardrails, stairs can present a significant falling hazard. If it’s not possible to live on one level, try to limit the trips you take up and down the stairs. 9. Move more carefully. Many people fall at home by moving too quickly from a sitting to a standing position and vice versa. Pause after going from lying down to sitting and from sitting to standing.

particularly in stairways and narrow hallways. Add night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms for better guidance at night. 6. Wear shoes. Socks may be comfortable, but they present a slipping risk. You can also purchase non-slip socks that have grips on the soles of the feet if shoes are too uncomfortable. 7. Make it nonslip. Bathtubs and showers, as well as floors in kitchens, bathrooms, and porches, can become extremely dangerous when wet. To prevent falls on slick surfaces, use nonslip mats.

Come Back In For A Consultation Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or you want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed. In the state of Louisiana you can can seek physical therapy early!

Save time

See our physical therapists for: • Recent injury • Nagging aches and pains • Back and neck pain • Joint pain and movement problems • Walking or balance difficulties

Improve your health naturally

Save money

Physical Therapy Gets Results!

Exercise Essential

Helps Balance TANDEM WALK - WALL Stand with the fingertips of one, or both, hands resting on a wall. Place the feet ‘heel to toe’ with the left foot forward. Steady yourself in this position. Step forward with the right foot, placing the heel directly in front of, and touching, the toes of the left foot. Step forward with the left foot, placing the heel directly in front of, and touching, the toes of the right foot. Repeat this sequence, moving forward down the hallway. Reverse direction, moving backward down the hallway.

Fall Recipe Easy Hot Apple Cider INGREDIENTS • 1 (64 fluid ounce) bottle apple cider • 3 cinnamon sticks

PAT I E N T R E S U LT S

“I can now jog without pain.” “After my ACL reconstruction, I could not completely straighten my knee or walk without pain. After about three months of therapy I can now jog without pain. Dr. Lauren Manna and the entire staff of Magnolia Physical Therapy in Harahan are extremely knowledgeable, polite, and enjoy helping their patients achieve their goals. Thank you Dr. Binder for sending me to MPT!”

• 1 teaspoon whole allspice • 1 teaspoon whole cloves • 1/3 cup brown sugar

DIRECTIONS In a slow cooker, combine apple cider and cinnamon sticks. Wrap allspice and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth, and add to pot. Stir in brown sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, and keep warm.