Falls Prevention

Balance concept for the elderly

More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States (Hausdorff et al. 2001) Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths (CDC 2006) Most fractures among older adults are caused by falls (Bell et al. 2000) From 2000 to 2040 the CDC predicts that the number of people aged 65 and older will increase from 43,8 million to 77,2 million According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the cost for treatment of fall-related injuries today is estimated at 20,2 billion dollars.

Give them the Strength they need for the life they deserve  For seniors muscular strength is directly connected to functional ability and balance control both of which help in the management of everyday chores. Research indicates that the correct type of resistance, or muscular, training helps maintain functional ability. Strength and balance training have been shown to help decrease the amount of falls and resulting injuries by between 15 and 50%.

HUR Falls Prevention - uniquely broad scope  HUR's Falls Prevention concept is based on a number of international top professionals' knowledge in senior citizens' rehabilitation. One of those individuals is Welmed Labs' physiotherapist and researcher Gerd Laxåback, who uses the Falls Prevention concept in her care and rehabilitation work. Her research particularly focuses on the connections of balance and muscular power when it comes to senior citizens. HUR's exercise equipment is especially suitable for this purpose and Falls Preverntion's other products, such as measurement and exercise equipment seamlessly support the training. Measuring and observing the functional ability of older people is essential. Precise control is needed to prevent injuries and to get older people in to the rehabilitation in time. HUR Falls Prevention can be divided in two parts. First is for measuring functional capacity, muscular strength and balance and the other is for strength and speed-strength exercises and well as balance and reactivity exercises. HUR Falls Prevention includes several equipment and software which have been developed to ease these tasks; HUR Labs Balance Software gives visually clear test result which provide a baseline for future training. HUR Performance Recorder provides an easy analysis of muscle strength.  The HUR labs Balance Platform measurements include the degree and direction of swaying. More information about HUR Labs products. HUR equipments pneumatic air-resistance technology allows seniors to safely build their "Functional Fitness" by increasing and maintaining their ROM, re-educate and strengthen muscles, increase static and dynamic endurance and increase bone density. HUR equipment helps target the exercises to the right muscle, which is important for falls prevention. Knee extension and flexion, extension of hip joint, abduction of hip joint, ankle extension and flexion, rotation, extension and flexion of trunk are the most important muscle groups for balance.