DENVER (November 30, 2021)—After more than a year and a half of reduced activity because of the pandemic, the risk of falls among older people is significantly higher, according to a recent American survey. In Australia, health care professionals are reporting an actual increase in falls due to the pandemic.
It’s why Nymbl, a balance training program that uses a smart device to train the brain and body to work together, is so important now.
Increased falling can result in part from deconditioning during periods of quarantine and scaled-back public activity. As the pandemic has persisted, reduced opportunity for exercise and fear of falling remain ongoing concerns.
The University of Michigan conducted the National Poll on Healthy Aging, asking 2,074 adults in the U.S. between the ages of 50 and 80 about their musculoskeletal health.
More than a third of those surveyed online reported a decline in their physical activity between March of 2020 and January of 2021, and 46% of those older than 65 indicated they have an increased fear of falling.
The National Institute on Aging reports that more than one in three people age 65 years or older falls each year. In the Michigan survey, 40% of those surveyed reported they had fallen multiple times between March 2020 and January 2021.
Nymbl Science seeks to improve balance with its evidence-based approach that combines fun cognitive challenges with simple body movements (known as dual-tasking), to impact the cognitive part of balance, also known as reflexive balance. The exercises can be done easily at home using a smart device. By combining physical and cognitive activities, Nymbl has been scientifically proven to reduce fall-related injury by more than 35% in older adults.
“We know this is a program that works,” said Nathan Estrada, PT, DPT, clinical vice president for Nymbl Science. “It’s vital that we continue to offer scientifically validated fall risk reduction to the more than 92% of older adults who want or need it provided in the home. Because we know that good balance is the cornerstone of healthy mobility, we must continue to empower older adults with the ability to safely and confidently age in place.”
Nymbl empowers users to preserve and enhance their freedom and enjoyment of life. Nymbl also provides valuable fall prevention and balance improvement educational content, supplying older adults with the information and tools they need to prevent falls.
For more information, visit nymblscience.com.
