Balance and Falls Program

Fortunately, therapy can be effective in improving your balance and reducing your risk for falls.

Outpatient:

In the outpatient setting, therapists can help you improve your balance, strength, and confidence to reduce your risk of falling in the first place. If you have already fallen and been injured, your therapist will help you recover from that injury, while also working on your balance and suggesting safety strategies to help reduce the risk of falling again.

Inpatient:

If you are already in the hospital for an illness or injury, whether it is related to a previous fall or not, our therapists will work with you to improve your balance and mobility. We can also recommend assistive devices and home safety strategies to make your discharge home as smooth as possible.

A thorough evaluation will be conducted during the initial visit. This evaluation will start with a detailed discussion and review of your medical conditions, medications, lifestyle, activity level, home environment, and other factors. It will also include a variety of tests to measure your strength, endurance, gait speed, balance, and joint movement.

Based on the results of this evaluation, an individualized exercise program will be prescribed to meet your specific needs. This program may include a combination of strengthening, flexibility, coordination, postural control, balance, and agility exercises, and will include select exercises for you to do at home. Therapy may also include gait training, safety, and fall prevention education and techniques, and recommendations for specific assistive devices or adaptive equipment when appropriate. The goal of the program is to decrease the risk of falls, increase activity levels, improve safety awareness, and optimize independence and quality of life.

• CDC: Older Adult Fall Prevention
• STEADI Program

What Community Supports are available for individuals with the condition?

• Upstate Oasis Falls Prevention
• Many local senior centers and town/city recreation departments also offer balance exercise classes.