YOUR LIFE YOUR HEALTH

St. George Man Recovers From Fall Through Neuro Rehabilitation Center

Dec 6, 2018, 8:51 PM | Updated: 8:51 pm

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Rick Craiggs is an accomplished golfer. He’s hit six holes-in-one in his lifetime.
“There’s something magical about when you hit the golf ball just the way it’s supposed to be hit. It’s pretty addicting,” said the 72-year-old.

But last year, one accidental fall in his garage changed everything. Craiggs caught his toe in the doormat and fell to the floor. He tried to get up, but immediately panicked.

“And once I got upright, I couldn’t walk. I couldn’t move my legs,” Craiggs said.

The fall caused a severe back injury requiring spinal fusion surgery. He spent about a month in acute rehab.

Rick Craiggs practiced his golf swing again as part of his therapy at Dixie Regional Neuro Rehabilitation center.

Rick Craiggs practiced his golf swing again as part of his therapy at Dixie Regional Neuro Rehabilitation center.

“I was so sure that I was never going to golf again. I gave up my membership,” Craiggs said.

After he was discharged from rehab, Craiggs started outpatient therapy at Dixie Regional Outpatient Neuro Rehabilitation center. He showed up in a wheelchair, had very poor balance and was at a high risk for falling.

“The first day here I could not stand up out of a chair,” Craiggs said. “I was just shaking.”

But through a lot of hard work, he made remarkable progress.

“The second week I came to therapy… with a walker, the third week, I came with my hiking poles. The fourth week, I came carrying my hiking poles; and the fifth week, I left everything home and came solo,” Craiggs said.

Intermountain Healthcare's balance therapist Arndreke Armstrong said falling is common for seniors.

Intermountain Healthcare’s balance therapist Arndreke Armstrong said falling is common for seniors.

Intermountain Healthcare’s balance therapist Arndreke Armstrong said falling is common for seniors.

“They’ve become deconditioned, their reaction or the response time is slowed down, so they’re not able to catch themselves quickly enough. They end up on the floor and that leads to injury and, in some cases, can lead to death,” he explained.

But fortunately, Craiggs’ active lifestyle made for a quick recovery.

Armstrong encourages older people to stay active and to participate in some sort of fitness program or strength training. “One of the best things you can do is walk … just make that a regular part of your daily routine,” he said.

Within two months, Craiggs was walking on his own, participating in his favorite activities again like tending to his cactus garden, driving his show cars, and getting back on the golf course.

Armstong said the subsequent injuries from a fall can sometimes be deadly. He encourages people experiencing regular falls to see a balance therapist for an evaluation, especially for patients with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, vertigo, or people recovering from a stroke, brain injury or spinal cord injury.

Rick Craiggs said he feels confident enough about his balance to take care of his cactus garden again. Rick Craiggs started therapy at Dixie Regional Neuro Rehabilitation center in St. George. After therapy, Rick Craiggs said he can get into one of his show cars again. Rick Craiggs practiced his golf swing again as part of his therapy at Dixie Regional Neuro Rehabilitation center. Intermountain Healthcare's balance therapist Arndreke Armstrong said falling is common for seniors. Rick Craiggs is an accomplished golfer with six holes-in-one during his lifetime.

KSL 5 TV Live

Your Life Your Health

Brady Dransfield (right) poses with his father, Scott Dransfield shortly after transplant surgery. ...

Emma Benson

‘Listen to your body’: Transplant survivor shares story for World Kidney Day

A kidney transplant survivor is warning others about kidney disease, including on World Kidney Day.

4 days ago

Mark Seguin in the hospital...

Emma Benson

Colon Cancer Awareness Month: Survivor urges screenings, early detection 

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a chance to raise awareness of the number one cancer killer for men under 50, and number two for women under 50.

11 days ago

Comiske riding her stationary bike, something she does every morning....

Emma Benson

Strategies to lengthen your life

The CDC says, on average, women tend to live 5-7 years longer than men because men have a higher rate of cardiovascular disease, but there are simple, healthy ways to increase your life expectancy.

18 days ago

Chris and Aimee Tyler, speaking about their experience with Chris's pancreatic cancer diagnosis....

Emma Benson

‘Cancer can affect anybody’: Utah couple processes pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and often goes undetected until it's advanced. One Utah County man is fighting for more time with his loved ones.

25 days ago

Ruth Norton uses the ArthroFit gym to help senior patients prevent, prepare for and recover from su...

Emma Benson

Intermountain program helps seniors fight joint pain, recover from surgery

Ruth Norton has had her fair share of health challenges, including double-knee surgery, open-heart surgery, and breast cancer. 

1 month ago

...

Emma Benson

‘The place we love isn’t healthy’: Millcreek couple weighs decision of moving due to poor air quality

No one is immune to the dangers of air pollution. What if you had to choose between staying in Utah while risking a premature death, or leaving behind family, your career, and your roots to move somewhere new for the sake of your health? One Millcreek couple is facing that exact scenario. #yourlifeyourhealth

1 month ago

Sponsored Articles

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

St. George Man Recovers From Fall Through Neuro Rehabilitation Center