By Dr Danica Newbold, B.HSci (Chiro), M.ClinChiro, Ad.Dip Myo. Certified Cox® Technic Chiropractor and Myotherapist.
DID YOU KNOW?
One in three people over the age of 65 fall each year, increasing to one in two people over the age of 80.
Falls can have serious consequences for older people and their families. They can impact a person’s quality of life, cause serious injury, fractures, disability, and lead to reduced physical activity and socialisation. Furthermore, falls have been noted to increase the need for residential care and even mortality rates.
Preventing falls requires a comprehensive strategy that incorporates various methods to address the different factors that contribute to falls. This is known as a multi-modal approach. Understanding and implementing this approach can greatly enhance safety and quality of life. As a Primary Healthcare facility, we are primed to be at the forefront of assisting our patients and the older populations in the community.
What is a Multi-Modal Approach?
A multi-modal approach to falls prevention involves using multiple strategies simultaneously to reduce the risk of falling. This method recognises that falls result from a combination of factors, including physical, environmental, and behavioural elements. By addressing each of these factors, a multi-modal approach provides a more robust and effective strategy for reducing falls.
Key Components of a Multi-Modal Approach:
- Exercise and Physical Therapy: Regular physical activity is crucial for maintaining strength, balance, and coordination. Exercise programs, such as balance training, strength exercises, and gait training, help improve muscle strength and flexibility.
- At Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic we offer small, beginner friendly classes aimed at Falls Prevention with a focus on these specific target areas. Group Classes, such as, Tai Chi, a low-impact exercise that focuses on balance and control, has been shown to reduce the risk of falls. Working with your Chiropractor, we can help tailor an exercise program to individual needs and capabilities.
- Spinal Health Management: Our spines are responsible for the messages that control our balance and posture. Strong and flexible spinal muscles and joints help support the body and maintain proper balance. Some chronic spinal pain conditions such as, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease and nerve compression can affect a person’s balance and awareness in the periphery (feet). Other symptoms such as numbness in the feet can also increase the risk of falls. The Chiropractors at Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic manage a wide variety of spinal conditions using highly effective and researched Cox® Flexion Distraction and Spinal Decompression Therapy. This gentle and safe therapy is appropriate for all ages, including older people.
- Home Safety Modifications: Many falls occur at home due to environmental hazards. Simple modifications can significantly reduce the risk. These include installing grab bars in the bathroom, ensuring adequate lighting throughout the home, removing tripping hazards like loose rugs, and securing electrical cords. Conducting a home safety assessment with a professional can identify potential risks and recommend necessary changes. We have access to Occupational Therapists and local council help services to help our patients in their own environments.
- Medication Management: Certain medications can increase the risk of falls, particularly those that affect balance or cause dizziness. It is important to review medications regularly with your General Practitioners to identify any that may contribute to increasing the risk of a fall. Adjusting doses or switching medications may be necessary to minimise these risks, and should be discussed with your GP or pharmacist
- Vision and Hearing Checks: Impaired vision and hearing can significantly contribute to falls. Regular eye exams and hearing tests are essential for maintaining sensory health. Corrective lenses and hearing aids can improve spatial awareness and help prevent falls. Ensuring that prescription glasses are up to date can also reduce the risk of falling.
- Education and Awareness: Educating our patients and caregivers about fall risks and prevention strategies is a crucial part of a multi-modal approach. Understanding the common causes of falls and how to address them empowers individuals to take proactive steps. This includes learning how to fall safely and what actions to take if a fall does occur.
- Nutrition and Hydration: As our patients get older it is imperative that they also maintain good nutritional and metabolic health. This includes healthy and balanced diets. Our referral network includes nutritionists and dietitians to help with designing and implementing these healthy habits.
Implementing a Multi-Modal Approach
To effectively implement a multi-modal approach, coordination among healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers is essential. A comprehensive falls prevention plan should be individualised based on the person’s health status, living environment, and lifestyle. Regular follow-ups with healthcare professionals can help monitor progress and make necessary adjustments to the prevention plan.
Preventing falls requires more than just one solution. By integrating exercise, home safety modifications, medication management, sensory checks, and education, a multi-modal approach offers a holistic and effective strategy for reducing fall risks. Adopting this comprehensive approach can lead to greater safety, independence, and overall well-being.
Malvern Chiropractic Clinic and Melbourne Spine Clinic have a special interest in Falls Prevention and want to do everything we can to help patients to live well into their later years. We have developed a program to help assess patients and if necessary, intervene with evidenced based strategies. If you or a loved one feel you might be at risk of a fall, and would like to discuss a multi-modal falls prevention plan, talk to your Chiropractor and get assessed today!
REFERENCES:
- Falls Prevention and Management: A Best Practice Guide for Allied Health Professionals. NSW Gov. South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD). May 2022.
- Preventing Falls and Harm From Falls in Older People – Best Practice Guidelines for Australian Community Care. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. 2009.
- Seppala, L.J., van de Glind, E.M.M., et al. Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: III. Others. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2018 Apr;19(4):372.e1-372.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2017.12.099. Epub 2018 Mar 2.
- https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/fall-risk-assessment/
MALVERN CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC & MELBOURNE SPINE CLINIC
FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAM
Our comprehensive Falls Prevention Program involves screening, assessing, and managing patients who may be at risk of falling. The assessment lasts for about 30 minutes
The Program covers 3 key areas:
- Screening: This involves a simple and short questionnaire for patients to fill out. It should take anywhere from 2-5 mins to complete and begins with simple YES/ NO responses. This initial step ensures that those at potential risk are promptly identified.
- Assessment: Patients will then undergo a series of simple tests in clinic with our Chiropractors. These tests will assess all the key components of a multi-modal Falls Prevention Program. Additionally, the program reviews environmental factors that may influence fall risk, such as home safety. The goal is to pinpoint individual vulnerabilities and develop a tailored strategy to address them.
- Management: Based on the screening and assessment results, a personalised management plan is crafted for each patient. This plan integrates various interventions designed to mitigate fall risk. Key components of the management phase include:
Exercise Programs: Exercise regimens to enhance balance, strength, and coordination, crucial for fall prevention. - Education and Training: Guidance on fall prevention strategies, including safe movement techniques and the use of assistive devices if necessary.
- Home Safety Modifications: Recommendations for adjustments in the home environment to reduce hazards and improve safety.
Annual Follow-ups: Ongoing yearly evaluations to monitor progress, adjust the management plan as needed, and provide continuous support.
Your Chiropractor may mention the Falls Prevention Program to you if they feel you are a good candidate for assessment, however if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one feel free to raise it with your Chiropractor at any stage. To book an appointment call us on (03) 9822 1835 or click here to book online.
Dr Danica Newbold attends Cox® Technic Course in the USA
In July, Dr Danica Newbold was fortunate to attend the Cox® Technic Cervical Certification Course, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, home of Dr Jim Cox and the Cox® Technic.
Dr Danica Newbold was joined by 14 other Chiropractor from across the US and the world. The course was lead by renowned Cox® Technic Instructors and researchers Drs George Joachim and Kurt Olding. Dr Jim Cox was also there, kindly spreading his vast skills, knowledge and of course his favorite subject – research!
Dr Danica Newbold returned with renewed confidence and skills that she is keen to pass along to all her wonderful patients, and looks forward to being able to help them through their spinal health journeys.