Daily physical activity and exercise have been identified as\u00a0ways to help prevent falls in older adults. By doing activity\u00a0that incorporates balance training, aerobic activity and\u00a0muscle-strengthening exercises, you can decrease your\u00a0risk of falling. These activities can also help reduce the risk\u00a0of a serious injury if you do fall.<\/p>\n
But what if you suffer from arthritis or joint pain?<\/em> This may\u00a0affect your participation in physical activity, and could\u00a0increase your falls risk.<\/p>\n In this month\u2019s Falls Prevention Series, we are exploring\u00a0osteoarthritis (OA)<\/strong>. According to the Centers for Disease\u00a0Control and Prevention (CDC), OA is the most common\u00a0form of arthritis, affecting over 32.5 million U.S. adults.\u00a0A degenerative joint disease, it affects the hands, hips\u00a0and knees most often.<\/p>\n According to the Arthritis Foundation, \u201cOsteoarthritis does\u00a0more than make your joints sore and stiff. Damage to\u00a0your knees and hips can also interfere with your balance\u00a0and mobility, increasing your risk for a fall and making you\u00a0more likely to fracture a bone in the process.\u201d As such, people with OA tend to have more falls\u00a0than those without OA. Having OA can decrease limb function, weaken muscles, and affect your What can you do if you have OA, other joint pain or balance issues?<\/em> You should talk with your primary\u00a0care provider (PCP) or rheumatologist about having a fall assessment. This will help identify what your\u00a0risk factors are, and what you and your doctor can do to address them, such as:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Health New England\u2019s Falls Prevention Program May Be Right for You<\/strong> How to Enroll:<\/strong> Talk to your doctor about enrolling, or call one of the participating facilities below.\u00a0Your doctor will need to provide a referral for the outpatient rehabilitation services.<\/p>\n When calling, be sure to mention you are interested in the Health New England Falls Prevention Program.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Upon program completion, the Falls Prevention\u00a0rehabilitation team will submit a request on your\u00a0behalf to Health New England to reimburse you for the\u00a0copayments paid during your visits, up to the maximum\u00a0amount. Members are required to pay their applicable\u00a0copayment at the time of service. The reimbursement\u00a0process can take four to six weeks.<\/p>\n Sources:<\/em> https:\/\/www.arthritis.org\/search\/results?query=osteoarthritis<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n
\noverall balance, especially if you have OA in your knees or hips.<\/p>\n\n
\nIf you\u2019re at risk for falling, have fallen, or have an abnormality of gait diagnosis, you may be eligible to\u00a0participate in Health New England\u2019s Falls Prevention Program for Medicare Advantage members. You\u2019ll\u00a0work directly with a qualified member of the rehabilitation team who will help to identify factors that\u00a0could decrease your risk of falls, and provide you with a specialized strength and balance program.<\/p>\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/arthritis\/basics\/osteoarthritis.htm<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n