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balance/fall recovery
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balance/fall recovery - February 1, 2004 3:12:00 PM
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360Sunshine
Posts: 5
Joined: January 31, 2004
From: Vanouver, WA USA
Status: offline
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Hi--I'm new to this site. I'm trying to simulate uneven surfaces and surfaces that are difficult to negotiate for the patient who has challenges with balance. My in-patient facility has no area that offers an environmental challenge as such. Any suggestions on creating difficult
terrain to optimize my patients before discharge?
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Re: balance/fall recovery - February 1, 2004 6:36:00 PM
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OSUPT
Posts: 45
Joined: April 15, 2002
Status: offline
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Do you have an inpatient gym or room to keep stuff in? You could get a small remnant of carpet (or a rug) and keep it rolled up in the corner when you don't need it. Other things I have used in the past are gymnastics mats and foam mats. I have also on occassion taken patients to a ramp to walk on or even outside (but they have to be pretty medically stable for the nurses to allow you to do that).
If it's not feasible to vary the surface, there are lots of things you can do to vary the task to make it tougher for the patient. Starting and stopping, turning 180 degrees and walking the other direction, zig-zagging, stepping over objects, negotiating obstacles/small spaces, walking backwards/sideways, and picking up objects from the floor are a few ideas you can try to make gait training more challenging for the patient (depending on assistive device use). Good luck!
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Re: balance/fall recovery - February 2, 2004 6:24:00 AM
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360Sunshine
Posts: 5
Joined: January 31, 2004
From: Vanouver, WA USA
Status: offline
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Thanks, OSU. I have tried many of your suggestions--I knew there would be clever PT's with additional ideas I hadn't considered. I like the zig zag and stepping over things ideas. Maybe I'll have them carry a small sack of "groceries" while they do that stuff. Thanks so much for sharing.
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Re: balance/fall recovery - February 2, 2004 11:53:00 AM
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nrl
Posts: 121
Joined: May 23, 2002
From: israel
Status: offline
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while your patient walks with a bag in hand, talk to the patient,tell them to talk, think of a shopping list and other cognitive tasks. performing a dual task while staying in balance is a problem. it can be trained.
Nirit
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Re: balance/fall recovery - February 3, 2004 2:53:00 AM
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PTupdate.com
Posts: 1473
Joined: October 8, 2001
From: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Status: offline
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Inexpensive exercise mats, like the ones in KMart, can be lined up in a row to provide a cushioned walk that is somewhat challenging for the balance impaired person. Doing it barefoot with the added "stick" factor makes it even tougher.
Mini-trampolines, found in Sears for $20, work well with static balance exercises, double leg to single leg to perturbations and even closing the eyes.
Then there is always the old stand by, that I love to use: Hand-held assist heel to toe walking, forward and backward, and braiding, only providing enough support that they don't fall but still have to regain their own composure.
John Duffy, PT OCS [URL=http://www.PTupdate.com]www.PTupdate.com[/URL]
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