My grandma’s PCP recommended she stop going to gym because she may fall.
I don’t agree with this advice. Here’s why:
1/
I don’t agree with this advice. Here’s why:
1/
My grandma is a safe community ambulator when using a walker.
She has a handicap parking placard allowing her to park close to the gym.
If she doesn’t go to the gym, she admits she will likely sit around at home and watch TV, further allowing her strength to deteriorate.
2/
She has a handicap parking placard allowing her to park close to the gym.
If she doesn’t go to the gym, she admits she will likely sit around at home and watch TV, further allowing her strength to deteriorate.
2/
My grandma’s main source of social interactions occur at the gym.
She has many friends who meet her there daily. It’s a way for her to stay social and exercise. And she enjoys going!
3/
She has many friends who meet her there daily. It’s a way for her to stay social and exercise. And she enjoys going!
3/
My grandma has heart disease. Going to the gym allows the proper cardiovascular overload required to keep her heart disease in check and maintain her cardiovascular capacity. Her exercise routine has been prescribed by a physical therapist.
4/
4/
My grandma lives alone. She is at the age where people are telling her she can’t do this and she can’t do that. I can tell it is affecting her mental health.
5/
5/
Her goals are to
1. Live at home as long as possible.
2. Maintain her social life.
Telling her she needs to stop going the gym contradicts her goals, mental and physical health.
6/
1. Live at home as long as possible.
2. Maintain her social life.
Telling her she needs to stop going the gym contradicts her goals, mental and physical health.
6/
I understand that we need to decrease risk for falling in our geriatric population.
However, the number one risk factor for falling, is fear of falls. If we can decrease a person’s fear, we can decrease their fall risk.
7/
However, the number one risk factor for falling, is fear of falls. If we can decrease a person’s fear, we can decrease their fall risk.
7/
Gait speed is another strong predictor with determining fall risk. This is why we screen people. My grandma’s gait speed with her AD is 1.2 m/s, outside the zone for increased fall risk.
If we discourage people from moving, gait speed may decline and increase fall risk
8/
If we discourage people from moving, gait speed may decline and increase fall risk
8/
Depressive symptoms can also increase risk of falling in older adults. By isolating our geriatric patients and family members, we may be contributing to feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
9/
9/
The ways we try to protect our loved ones (and patients) may actually be harming them and increasing their risk for falls in the future.
Here are some strategies I try to implement for my patients and their families to help ease these two conflicting problems:
10/
Here are some strategies I try to implement for my patients and their families to help ease these two conflicting problems:
10/
✅Encourage use of an assistive device, especially on days where there is more ice.
✅Salt paths are home so walkways are less slippery
✅Recommend seeing a physical therapist to help with confidence, balance and strength deficits
11/
✅Salt paths are home so walkways are less slippery
✅Recommend seeing a physical therapist to help with confidence, balance and strength deficits
11/
✅Check medication list for side effects that may lead to increased fall risk
✅Install railings on steps so getting in and out of the house is easier
✅Encourage patients 2ask for help if they need it.
✅Movement is medicine!
END #medtwitter #orthotwitter #falls #geriatrics
✅Install railings on steps so getting in and out of the house is easier
✅Encourage patients 2ask for help if they need it.
✅Movement is medicine!
END #medtwitter #orthotwitter #falls #geriatrics
