Falling & Balance Problems DO NOT Just Come With Age. Here’s WHY.

Video Transcript

Dr. Jeffrey Guild (00:00:00) – A common misconception is that falls just come with age. And then I’ve even heard crazy things like, well, when people reach a certain age, then they should automatically start using a walker or cane. I can tell you this could not be any farther from the truth. And the reason for this is just look at the older individuals that you know, and you probably know someone that is playing doubles tennis or they are active and they’re going traveling and they’re not using a can or a walker. You don’t see any fiscal decline in them at all. So what makes them different from everybody else, from your peers that you see that are struggling, they’re declining, that are ending up in the hospital, they’re following, that are getting joint replacements, not because they’re planning on it, because they fall and they have to get one. So what’s the difference?

Dr. Jeffrey Guild (00:00:42) – The number one thing? Of course, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. One thing that tends to happen as we get older is our general balance system tends to decline. Now, why is this the case? Yes, there are some biological things that happen that degenerate. However, the vast majority of the reason why people tend to lose their balance is because they don’t use it as much. Think about when we’re children. We stimulate ourselves by spinning and going on amusement park rides and having our parents spin us around and rolling down hills and laughing with our friends doing all this stuff. This is to train us for adulthood to be able to balance ourselves. And even when we get into adulthood, let’s say in our thirties and forties, our balance system has already declined. And if you need the proof of that, just think about the 40 year old who is not going on the amusement park ride with their children because it’ll make them sick and dizzy and their children go on the music park ride all the time and we’ll just keep doing it.

Dr. Jeffrey Guild (00:01:34) – Now as we get older, of course, more time goes by and the use of that balance system becomes less and less and less. We’re not going out and life tends to slow down. We’re not mo, we don’t tend to move as much. And of course, more time goes by in general since we were children, so that our balance system tends to decline in general simply because of a lack of use. So what to do about this? Of course, the best thing to do is get to a doctor, get to a physical therapist, and get into a balanced program even better. A vestibular specialist who is an expert in business and balanced disorders that can address the system very specifically so that you can get ahead of this problem and not have to wait for the problem to come up because this is a life or death situation.

Dr. Jeffrey Guild (00:02:17) – A balanced problem that ends in a fall can be a life and death situation and actually usually is. So you want to act proactively on this. And if you’re already in your sixties and seventies, you want to start thinking about this. You want to become more physically active, you want to be sure that you’re getting out walking on a regular basis. You want to be exercising. And if you’re beginning to see problems with your balance, then you can see a physical therapist and have this problem to be addressed. So act proactively, get ahead of it. Be physically active, use your balance system more rather than less, and spend less time sitting and spend more time being physically active. And that will help you get ahead. If you don’t use it, you lose it when it comes to your balance system. So falls and balance problems don’t just come

Dr. Jeffrey Guild (00:02:58) – With age, they come because of a lack of use and then that lack of use over time. Now, if we stimulate the balance system very specifically, it’s amazing the things that we’re able to accomplish with our clients even into their nineties. And they’re able to achieve things that people in their sixties and seventies cannot do because we’re addressing and stimulating and training their balance system very specifically. And we do this every single day with our clients. So if you wanna improve your balance system, if you want to stop the risk of falls, then use your balance system more, not less.

References

Dr. Jeffrey Guild challenges the common belief that falls are an inevitable part of aging and emphasizes the importance of using the balance system to prevent falls.

He suggests that a lack of use, rather than biological factors, is the main reason for the decline of the balance system as we age.

To prevent falls and improve balance, he recommends becoming more physically active and seeking help from a doctor or physical therapist.

Do you or an aging loved one struggle with balance and falls? There is hope. Let us empower you to maintain your independence at home and in the community.

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Matt Langford

Physical Therapist

Hi there! I'm Dr. Matt Langford. I have been working as a physical therapist in DFW for three years. My wife, our golden doodle named Birdie, and I love to spend our time going on different adventures whether it be hiking the Trinity trail or traveling to new places. I also love playing golf, pickleball, and serving at our local church in Fort Worth. My goals in life include learning more about the field of physical therapy so I can provide better care to individuals, pursuing my faith in a way that helps others know about Christ, and making as many memories as I can.

Kasondra Woodruff

Client Liaison

Kasondra is a mother and a pet lover, she loves spending time outdoors with her children and furry friends. With years of experience in client relations, her passion is ensuring that every client is heard and taken care of. As our Client Liaison, Kasondra takes pride in building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring that their needs are met and that they feel comfortable and confident throughout their time with us.

Jason Livas

Physical Therapy

Jason joined the Optimove team November 2023. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 followed by an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy from Navarro College in 2019.
Jason’s clinical interests include neuromuscular training for healthy aging and longevity of the older adult, orthopedic rehabilitation and strength and conditioning. Jason also maintains certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and trigger point dry needling (Cert DN).
Outside of work, Jason enjoys cooking, reading, strength training and spending time with his beautiful wife and kids.

Connie Thomason

Occupational Therapist

Connie holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University (1997) and boasts over 26 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. Her expertise lies primarily in neurological rehabilitation within a hospital-based outpatient setting. Throughout her career, Connie has worked across various healthcare settings including Acute, SubAcute, Skilled Nursing, and In-Patient Rehab.
Her specialization in Vestibular Rehabilitation since 2005 has equipped her to effectively treat a wide array of conditions, including BPPV, Vestibular Migraine, Meniere’s Disease, acute and chronic hypofunction, Acoustic Neuroma, PPPD, balance disorders, central vestibular disorders, concussion, and Superior Canal Dehiscence.
Connie holds numerous certifications, including the 360 Neuro Health Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehab, Emory University Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course, 360 Neuro Health V2FIT for concussion, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) BIG for Parkinson’s patients, Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) for stroke patients, and NASM Corrective Exercise certification. She is also certified in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Active in professional communities, Connie is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Vestibular Disorders Association.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Connie enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years, along with their two rescued bulldogs. Her hobbies include riding motorcycles, traveling, running, painting, and reading extensively about health, wellness, and vestibular research.

Andy Altmoyer

Operations Manager

Andy grew up as part of a military family, living all over the country and abroad. He is so glad to have finally landed back in Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education, minoring in Vocal Music and Theater from West Liberty University in West Virginia. Since then he has used his outgoing nature, education background, and organizational skills in healthcare management and operations. When he isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading Marvel comics, and cooking.
During Andy’s first venture into healthcare, while living in Ohio, he worked for a practice focused on Orthopedics where he spent time managing their Physical Therapy front desk across multiple locations as well as being a group fitness instructor for seniors, folks with special needs, and those who have had total join replacements. It’s here that he realized his deep love of helping people navigate the healthcare system and connecting them with those can meet their mobility needs.
Sad to leave that company after over 7 years, Andy and his family moved to Dallas where Andy spent 3 years as Operations Manager for a large Neurology practice. He continued helping people connect with top tier healthcare providers, navigating the pandemic, and moving the practice’s location in stride. It was during this time that Andy met Dr. Guild. The Optimove Team became a favored referral source for some of the physicians on staff and Andy got to work with their team closely as they coordinated care for the patients.
This collaboration led to Andy joining the Optimove Team in August of 2021. Andy has a unique blend of experiences not only professionally but personally as well. He has been able to assist so many people reach the correct providers to have their needs met and provides valuable insight to the workings of the healthcare system at large and how to make it work better for our clients. This also comes from helping his mother navigate worker’s compensation and disability as well as assisting his family setting up his grandparents with memory care, assisted living, physical therapy, and other services. Andy has often been quoted as saying, “I may not be the one laying the healing hands but connecting folks to the right people who can help them makes me feel like I’m a part of something great and makes me feel good.”
Andy would like to be a part of your journey towards independence and wellness. He loves getting to know our clients and being one of their biggest cheerleaders throughout their journeys. Give him a call and take the first steps to achieving your goals.

Peter Langlois

Physical Therapy

Peter keeps our clients laughing, and the whole Optimove Team as well. Hand-picked by Jeffrey from their previous rehabilitation work, when he is not being “The Joint Whisperer” and making the seemingly impossible happen, Peter is MacGyvering up some gadget for our clients to help them move better.
Peter is originally from Rhode Island. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island where his first career was as a ship captain, where he travelled the world and experienced many different cultures. Peter later developed a passion for physical therapy from his running career as a long distance runner doing marathons and ultramarathons. This led him to switch careers as he wanted to learn more about injury prevention and rehab. Peter has worked in various facilities over the last 8 years as a therapist throughout the metroplex including skilled nursing, outpatient orthopedics, and home health. He now enjoys working with our clients on various movement disorders, gait mechanics and balance issues. In his spare time Peter enjoys chopping wood and going for long trail runs with his family.

Jeffrey R. Guild, PT, DPT, (Former CSCS)

Owner, Therapist

When Dr. Jeffrey Guild is not working as business owner and clinician, he is dedicating time to his wife and children. His other hobbies include working out (Mainly in the weight room), music (Listening, playing, & researching), history, science, and studying business and successful people.
Jeffrey is originally from Bettendorf, Iowa and went to The University of Iowa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion (Minors in Integrative Physiology & Psychology). He also worked as a Strength & Conditioning intern with The University of Iowa for 3 years and volunteered in cardiac rehabilitation at The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Upon arriving to Texas, he interned at the Cooper Aerobics Center.
Jeffrey’s first career was as a strength & conditioning professional and personal trainer. Even in the fitness industry he specialized in working with people who were older and with physical limitations. His particular emphasis as a personal trainer was identifying basic movement problems to prevent injuries BEFORE the training started, which gave him a greater understanding about human movement and was a natural segway towards Physical Therapy.
Jeffrey graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth in 2013. He received the Dean’s research Award for the Allied Health Department and got published in multiple journals. After physical therapy school he started his career by receiving mentoring for over a year working in a vestibular/neurological specialty outpatient practice. Since then he has worked in a number of areas of physical therapy including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, skilled nursing, memory care, and even pediatrics. In 2018 he started his own practice with the name “Optimove” with the emphasis on a combination of “optimal movement” and “optimism.”