| !--[if !vml]-->Current statistics show that | | | | after dinner and a few drinks. On leaving the |
| approximately 13 million Americans over the age | | | | restaurant, it is dark and raining. When stepping |
| of 65 suffer from some type of dizziness or | | | | from the walkway to the lower parking lot, or |
| balance problems that significantly interfere with | | | | onto soft wet turf, the proprioceptive system |
| their lives. Consider that half of all falls among the | | | | from the feet is relied upon heavily to maintain |
| elderly are the result of untreated or mistreated | | | | one’s balance. If one is strongly visually |
| vestibular problems, (vertigo). Currently, falls are | | | | reliant, this system may fail, and the individual will |
| the leading cause of injury death in persons over | | | | fall. Compounding this are disorders such as |
| 65. In the over 75 age group, 75% of visits to | | | | macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and |
| the emergency room are for injuries associated | | | | particularly diabetes. In our office, all patients are |
| with falls. This is by no means a problem only | | | | checked initially, and at regular intervals for |
| affecting the elderly, as the number one cause of | | | | balance and risk of fall, using a computerized |
| non-fatal injuries, in all age groups, is from falls. | | | | posturography system, which is extremely |
| Many falls are unpreventable, such as falling off of | | | | accurate at predicting falls associated with poor |
| a ladder when a stair breaks. But most are | | | | stability. Testing takes less than a minute, and as |
| preventable, coming from poor balance associated | | | | such, we offer this fall risk screening free of |
| with neglect of these systems over the course | | | | charge as a community service. We also offer |
| of our life. Balance is essentially a sense, derived | | | | free informational booklets on vertigo, dizziness |
| from the integration of vision, the vestibular | | | | and dystonia. You may request one by calling toll |
| labyrinth, (inner ear), and the proprioception, | | | | free, (24 hr. recorded message only): 1 888 |
| (sensation) perceived from the feet. Any | | | | 685-8386 to receive a vertigo/dizziness booklet, 1 |
| compromise of any one of these systems lends | | | | 800 296-7504 to receive a dystonia booklet. |
| itself to decreased balance sense and thus | | | | Lastly, use good sense in fall prevention. Use |
| increased risk of fall. Quite commonly, humans | | | | nightlights in hallways, near stairs, between the |
| develop an over reliance on the visual system, | | | | bed and the bathroom, and anywhere else you |
| allowing a sort of semi-neglect of the other | | | | may be walking at night. Consider that you may |
| systems. When this occurs, fall risk increases | | | | need to walk anywhere in your home in the |
| when one is in the dark, or on soft or uneven | | | | event of a fire, as such, nightlights illuminating all |
| ground, or by example, stepping from a solid | | | | areas would be appropriate. |
| surface like a sidewalk to a soft surface like wet | | | | Dr. Scopelliti has over 1000 hours in post doctoral |
| turf. Attempting this maneuver after dusk | | | | neurology, and practices at the 279 Professional |
| complicates balance greatly in those with a strong | | | | Medical Arts Bldg at the rear of Monmouth Medical |
| visual reliance, thus increasing risk of fall further. | | | | Center; Tel. (732) 229-5250. |
| As a typical scenario, one leaves a restaurant | | | | |