Mobility and risk of falling, interventions

Interventions that are used to strengthen ADL and prevent falling largely also apply to mobility. The most important are:

• Physiotherapeutic exercise interventions including strength and/or balance training (increasing muscle strength and improving balance).
• Other useful physiotherapy interventions: increasing joint mobility, improving gait, reducing pain and reducing anxiety.
• Encouraging exercise standards for 65+ year-olds: remaining physically active (exercising at least 30 minutes per day) is associated with fewer limitations in mobility. The 30 minutes of daily exercise can be achieved through participation in sporting activities but also through walking, gardening and other physically strenuous activities. Activities that include walking seem particularly useful (Visser, 2005).
• Motivational interviewing.
• Referral to specialized/HBO vpk to determine the cause of mobility problems and to perform further diagnostics.
• Nutrition and sunlight (sufficient vitamin D and calcium due to the risk of osteoporosis). Calcium is mainly found in dairy products, nuts and dried fruits. Vitamin D is found in margarine, low-fat margarine, meat, eggs and oily fish. Sunlight is necessary for the production of vitamin D.
• Lifestyle: smoking increases the risk of fractures by 20%; alcohol prevents absorption of proteins. 
• Pain relief so that any pain does not hinder mobility.
• Physiotherapy: check insurance package regarding physiotherapy.
• For cognitively impaired clients: learning about their own limits and possibilities

 

Bron : Larue A. (2019) in: Bakker T., Habes V., Quist, G., Van der Sande, J., Van de Vrie, W. (2019) Klinisch redeneren bij ouderen. Functiebehoud in levensloopperspectief. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum.