Falls And Falls Prevention

Are you experiencing any of the following symptoms?

Unsteadiness or balance problems Decreased energy or physicality Visual changes Loss of sensation in the feet or legs

Slowness Back or Neck Pain Any falls in the last 3-6 months (with or without injury). Weakness or loss of strength in arms or legs

Falls are becoming increasingly common in Australia as the population ages. Did you know that, as of June 30 2020, in Australia, 4.2 million people (16% of Australia’s total population) are 65 and older⁽¹⁾? The number of falls per year has consistently increased by approximately 2% since 2009/10. As the number of older Australians increases, these numbers too are expected to grow. In 2018/19, 231,000 people were hospitalised due to falls, and it was reported that 5,300 people died due to fall incidences⁽²⁾.

Balance issues and falls can result from several physiological factors, including vision changes, vestibular (inner ear) problems and altered sensation in the feet. Some of these changes can be associated with certain spinal conditions, such as spinal stenosis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is the narrowing of spinal canal spaces that compromise the neurological structures, causing low back pain, leg pain, and paraesthesia (numbness). This neurological compromise can present a problem for older people and may increase the risk of falls. Poor balance has also been noted in the literature concerning Low Back Pain (LBP) patients. The evidence supports the fact that patients who report LBP showed decreased postural sway and improved balance when treating their LBP condition^(3,4,5).

How do Chiropractors prevent Falls and help with Balance issues?

The Cox® Certified Chiropractors at Malvern Chiropractic Clinic, and Melbourne Spine Clinic are highly qualified to assess and treat spinal dysfunctions using Cox® Flexion-Distraction and Spinal Decompression Therapy. Our Chiropractors are proficient in identifying risks and assessing frailty to recommend a program of exercises and a treatment plan for the prevention of falls.

Using Cox® Flexion-Distraction Therapy to treat conditions such as low back pain and spinal stenosis can help restore pain-free, normal function to the spinal joints, discs and surrounding musculature. This can help improve balance problems, decrease numbness in the lower limbs and improve physical activity, ensuring you can complete your regular activities of daily living (ADLs).

Cox® Technic is a safe, gentle, low-force and non-invasive Chiropractic treatment with over 40 years of top-notch research in peer-reviewed journals, publications and textbooks worldwide.

To see a demonstration of Cox Technic please click here

Click here to complete a Contact Us form to email one of our back pain experts and find out if we are able to assist with your condition.

Additional references and further information available by clicking Coxtechnic.com

REFERENCES:

(1) https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/summary

(2) https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/injury/falls

(3) Ruhe, A., Fejer, R., Walker, B., Is there a relationship between pain intensity and postural sway in patients with non-specific low back pain? BMC Musculoskelet Discor 12, 162 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-162

(4) Ruhe, A., Fejer, R., Walker, B. Pain relief is associated with decreasing postural sway in patients with non-specific low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Discor. 2012 Mar 21;13:39. doi: 10.1186/1471- 2474-13-39. PMID: 22436337; PMCID:PMC3341188

(5) Ge, L., Wang, C., Zhou, H., et al. Effects of low back pain on balance performance in elderly people: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act 18, 8(2021). http://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-021-00263-z