Has Loss of Balance Caused You to Fall?
Did you know that one third of the people over the age of 65 years have at least one fall each year? With over 35 million older adults in the USA, this comes to more than 10 million falls each year. According to the National Safety Council in 2002, falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths in older adults.

Falls can cause injuries that range from bruising to life threatening trauma. Head injuries and long bone fractures, such as hip fractures, are at the top of the list.  Effects of head injuries can sometimes be delayed and the injured person may not even realize that there has been head trauma until sometime in the future.

Falls that don’t cause physical damage can have a psychological effect on older people. Because of their fear of falling, they become more cautious and begin to restrict their activities. By doing so, they also reduce their exercise levels. This reduces their strength, making them weaker, increasing their risk of another fall.

Falls are often caused by loss of balance. Balance for the most part depends on our sensory systems, and as we increase in age, the sensory functions decrease which then leads to a loss of balance control.

Peripheral Neuropathy is the leading cause of sensory loss in older patients. This ‘silent’ epidemic can come on so slowly that people may not even realize that they have the problem.Then the symptoms take hold and its too late and the person falls.

Muscle strength, along with the sensory systems, plays an important role in balance and mobility. When decreased and slowed muscle response occurs in the presence of diabetes, the chances of falling increase. A little exercise every day can help improve your strength and your balance .

The Bellevue Pain Institute is having 100% success treating Peripheral Neuropathy using  non invasive, low level Laser Light Therapy.

This article is not intended to diagnose, but rather to help pinpoint symptoms to help you receive the appropriate treatment from a healthcare professional.