Fall Prevention

Did you know that our practice does assessment for your risk of falling? Falls account for a large percent of medical emergencies each year. We’ve all seen the commercials where the woman has fallen and is telling the camera that she can’t get up. Many of us don’t think twice about this commercial and we are just anxious to get back to whatever program we are watching. The reality is that this commercial, no matter how melodramatic it may seem is a real concern for many people. The older we become the more unsteady we become and the less balance we have while we are walking. There are certain conditions that can lead to an even greater risk though including a messy house, pets running between your feet, a hunched back and diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy is a huge medical concern that is growing each year due to the increasing numbers of people diagnosed with diabetes. Neuropathy is a big fancy word to describe the loss of feeling and sensation within a certain part of your body. In diabetics, neuropathy affects your feet and can begin with a tingling, burning sensation that can lead to numbness and an inability to feel something touching your foot. When you are walking, you need this sensation to be able to feel the surface beneath your feet and whether or not you are on a flat surface or an incline.

Imagine a person that is standing on 2 feet and looking straight ahead. This person is going to have a pretty steady stance position and their feet and hips will not move that much. Now take that same person and have them close their eyes while standing on their 2 feet, this person is going to have less balance as a result of removing the visual component. Now let’s think of the same scenario, but now the person is standing on one foot first with their eyes open and then their eyes closed. In each of these there will be less balance. Now if you took this person and had them stand on a soft surface with their eyes closed and on one foot, they will be very likely to fall over. The last situation with a soft surface and eyes closed while standing on one foot is similar to the diabetic patient that can’t feel the ground beneath them and is walking around. These people will not be able to process what they are stepping on, if the surface is level, or even if they are touching the ground. The worse the neuropathy is, the greater the risk these people are at for a fall.

 Dr. Wachtel is able to assess individuals and determine their percentage likelihood of a fall. He is also able to offer treatment options to prevent you from falling and sustaining greater injuries. These treatments can range from medications in the early stage of neuropathy through housing modifications and different shoe types to provide greater stability. If you or someone you know has neuropathy or has had previous falls and lives in the Beverly, Billerica, Westford or Winchester, Massachusetts area, our office would be more than happy to schedule an appointment for you.