Balance & Fall Prevention
Balance, the ability to control and maintain your body’s position as it moves through space is an integral part of daily life. There are conditions that may impair your sense of balance and contribute to falls. The effects of aging are the most common causes of balance problems, but injury and disease can also create problems.
Causes of Increased Fall Risk Include:
- Impaired Strength, Flexibility and Endurance
- Poor Posture (Slouching forward and rounded shoulders can cause unsteadiness)
- Disease (Diabetes, Osteoporosis)
- Home Hazards (lighting, obstructed walkways, small pets, cords, etc.)
- Winter Conditions (slick sidewalks, high winds, icy parking lots)
- Medications (tranquilizers, heart medicines, blood pressure, etc.)
Fall Prevention Conditioning Program
Fall prevention conditioning programs offered by physical therapists are designed to increase independence with functional activities, functional mobility, and safety awareness while decreasing fall risk. Research has shown that a successful fall prevention program must be multi-dimensional. A program must address all underlying factors in addition to strength and balance.
Physical therapists use valid and reliable assessments to determine all the factors affecting each individual’s fall risk. Therapy focuses on reducing the factors and decreasing fall risk. This is consistent with the protocols recommended by: The American Geriatrics Society and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ Panel on Fall Prevention Guidelines.
Program Objectives
- Increase independence with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
- Increase independence with functional mobility
- Decrease fall risk
- Prevent future fall
- Increase safety
The program is tailored around each individual’s needs. The length of the program is dependent on the severity of the symptoms and the goals of each individual. If you are concerned that you or a family member may be at risk for a fall, please contact us for more information.
