Our body’s vestibular system acts to maintain our balance and sense of equilibrium. When this system is not functioning normally, it can make anyone feel like they’re on a ride, and I’m talking the not-so-merry-go-round. The anatomy and physiology of the vestibular system is complex, comprised of the inner ear, nerves, the cerebellum, regions of the brain stem and brain, our eyes, and muscles throughout our body. This post will be about the anatomy and function of the inner ear, or the peripheral vestibular system.
The inner ear is composed of Read the rest of this entry »
I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and happy new year! Your Geaux 2 PT was having a jolly good time in Great Britain and is refreshed and ready to write about some very important subjects. I’m starting 2010′s blog with a topic that is near and dear to me: preventing falls in the elderly. With winter now in full swing (8-10 inches of snow here yesterday) and icy, slick conditions around, it’s important now more than ever to talk about falling. Falls and resulting complications are serious health issues facing older adults. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths, the most common cause of non-fatal injuries, and the most common reason for hospital admission due to trauma in older adults. Read that sentence again. It’s staggering. Brain injuries and fractures incurred from a fall can be devastating and potentially life threatening. In 2001, I lost someone very close to me because he fell and broke his hip at the age of 76. He suffered a brain injury from the fall, causing trauma-induced dementia, to the point that he could not take care of himself (previously living in his own home independently). He never left the hospital and complications eventually caused his death.
