[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In 1817, when James Parkinson wrote his essay on the disease that would later bear his name, he observed that, “the patient, on proceeding only a very few paces, would inevitably fall”. Indeed, while aging may put us all at an increased risk for falling, people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have twice the risk of their peers. Falls can impact a person’s mobility and quality of life. Falls often result in injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to serious fractures and head trauma. It is also common for a person with PD to develop a constant fear of falling, which may become psychologically overwhelming, resulting in a reluctance to leave the home.

If you experience a fall, inform your doctor so that your medication schedule can be evaluated. A fall may be the result of the side effects of antiparkinsonian medications.

Even a minor fall can result in bruises, cuts or sprains. More serious falls can cause severe injuries such as broken bones or concussions. Furthermore, a fear of falling can also affect rigidity and slowness. When this problem is still mild, modest adjustments in medication can go a long way to prevent falling. You may need to be patient while your doctor fine-tunes the combinations, dosages and timing of drugs to ensure the best “on” time and the least-limiting “off” time.

Make the necessary adjustments at home to ensure quality of life as PD patients are more prone to falling inside the home than outside. Potential danger spots include tight spaces such as areas where turning or backing-up is required (e.g. in the kitchen), in doorways and on stairs. Here is a list of ideas to help prevent falls.

• Carefully-positioned sturdy furniture as a couch-back to act as a hand-rail.
• Remove lightweight decorative chairs that may topple easily and any tables or furniture with glass tops.
• Loose rugs should be removed altogether (and never use wax on floors)
• Long hallways can be fitted with an extra handrail along one wall.
• Bathrooms can be installed with grab bars and non-skid adhesive strips in the bath or shower as well as outside the rub or shower stall.
• Safety on stairs can be improved by checking that treads are secure and fitting a handrail on both sides.
• Consider marking the first and last steps on stairs with non-slip white paint (avoid tape) to highlight where the stairs begin and end.
• Swinging doors should be replaced with regular hinge doors or eliminated altogether.
• Good lighting is important in halls, stairways and entrances and night lights in bathrooms.

Contact your Doctor and ask to have occupational therapists for a “Home Safety Assessment”

The primary motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, rigidity, stiffness and slowness of movement as well as changes in posture, all contribute to the risk of falling. Problems with center of mass, or center of gravity, are of major importance to maintaining balance and preventing falls.

A person’s center of mass is located just below the navel and the legs form the base of support. In PD, it is not uncommon for a person’s center or middle to move away from his or her base of support, leaning forward. This causes one to lose balance during daily activities.

A fall may also occur due to impaired postural reflexes which we make automatically to maintain our balance. The postural change is a propensity to lean forward. This lends itself to a person developing a stooped posture and shuffling gait, then when you have a freezing as though one’s feet were stuck to the floor increases the probability of a fall.

Another risk factor for falls stems from the problem some people have with their vision. Some individuals experience double and blurry vision as well as changes in depth perception, making it difficult for them to scan ground surfaces while walking and to maintain their center of gravity and balance.

Make sure your doctor is aware of these things and ask if you can have time with a physical therapist, or an exercise group. Work on not falling by being pro-active and not waiting until a fall occurs to begin addressing the dangerous of falls.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]