Dizzy Days?

Are you dizzy? Feel unsteady or have ringing in your ears? Do you have difficulty riding in the backseat of a car? Is it difficult to walk a straight line or balance on one foot? You may have a vestibular problem. These symptoms can be caused by an inner ear problem, pathology in the neck, Menier’s Disease, labyrinthitis or benign parosysmal positional vertigo.

More than 2 million people visit their physician each year with the above complaints.  80% of people with these symptoms are completely cured with appropriate medication and physical therapy.  Treatment of neck dysfunction and balance disorders is commonly treated with physical therapy.

Your body can be trained to improve your static and dynamic balance.  The Little Axe Health care specialists can help you improve your visual tracking, coordination and movement strategies.  We can also improve your neck problems. 

The number one reason for fractures in the elderly population is falls secondary to poor balance.  Why wait?  Why suffer? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.   

Little Axe Health Center

-Toni Donahoo, Doctor of Physical Therapy

 

Participant call!! If you are AST 55 and older residing in Cleveland and Pottawatomie counties and have a fear of falling or a history of falling, we would like to speak with you.   The AST Injury Prevention Program and the Public Health Nursing Department are working with the Little Axe Physical Therapy Department to conduct a study to reduce elder falls and injury.  We will be offering balance assessments to participants as well as physical therapy and tai chi exercise to improve your balance, flexibility, and improve mobility.  Unintentional falls are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths for Native American ages 55 and older, according to the Center for Disease Control.  The CDC reports the death rates for Native American’s in the US have increased from 69.87% in 2000 to 76.48% in 2005.  Unintentional falls were a total of 81% of deaths of persons ages 65 and older.  For those who are lucky enough not to suffer a fatal injury during a fall, are likely to become less able to get around, unable to live on their own, and may suffer an early death.  Elders are important to the well-being and cultural strength of our Native communities.  The community needs you so please give us a call at the Little Axe Clinic.  Sacha Almanza, AST Injury Prevention Program Coordinator 405.447.0300 located in the Public Health Nursing Department, ext. 7999.