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UAMS Seeks Stroke Patients for Study on Preventing Falls
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) has expanded its stroke research efforts with a $100,000 federal grant that focuses on helping stroke survivors avoid future injuries due to falls by studying strength and balance.

 
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the two-year pilot study is led by UAMS’ Mark Mennemeier, Ph.D., an associate professor of neurobiology and developmental sciences.

 
Because alertness appears to play a role in strength and balance …

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Good posture means keeping the three natural curves of the spine in balanced alignment. When viewed from the side, a normal spine curves slightly forward in the neck or cervical area, slightly backwards in the upper back or thoracic segment of the spine, and slightly forward in the lower back or lumbar region. The back’s natural curves depend on strong and flexible muscles along with healthy hip, knee and ankle joints to make it possible to maintain good posture in any position and during movement.  Kyphosis …

My friend, Pat Iyer, hosts regular teleseminars on a variety of medicolegal topics.  Recently, Barbara Levin was her guest and discussed the clinical. legal and financial implications of falls.  She covered a long list of points which are posted below.
If you are working on a case that involves falls, I suggest you contact MedLeague.com or PatientSafetyNow.com for a copy of this seminar.  It is available in CD, MP3, or transcript.

photo credit: purplemattfish
1. How do you define a fall?
2. Is an assisted fall really a fall?
3. How many falls occur …

As  a nurse caring for the geriatric communication, fall prevention can mean the difference in a long life or a complicated hospital stay.  Whether you, yourself are a senior, or if you have senior loved ones, take a look at this post from the Mayo Clinic staff which addresses six ways in which to reduce your risk of falling.

photo credit: fish2000
You may feel you already know how to prevent falls, but take a look and you may be surprised at just how many things you have never considered before.  …