Fall Prevention and Balance Training

“Falls are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma” - CDC 2005

More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States (Hornbrook et al. 1994; Hausdorff et al. 2001). Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma (CDC 2005). Needless to say, falls among older adults are serious and require attention. Several factors may lead to falls in older adults including decreased strength, balance, flexibility, vision, vestibular deficits, inactivity and taking certain medications. Your physical therapist will help identify key areas of impairments that are causing your falls. From this assessment your therapist will develop a customized program focusing on such things as balance, coordination, strength, flexibility and education on preventing falls. The goal of this program is to reduce the risk of falls and create a greater and safer quality of life.