Assessment and Prevention of Falls: How Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology Can Help
Why do falls matter?
According to the World Health Organisation, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths (after road traffic accidents) worldwide. Medical attention is required for 37.3 million falls each year globally. Aside from the physical impact, other consequences of falls can include emotional trauma, reduced confidence, loneliness, and an overall decline in quality of life. The good news is, studies show that falls risk can be significantly reduced by addressing important risk factors!
What are the risk factors for falls?
- Reduced muscle strength and balance – muscle mass naturally declines with age (and more quickly in those who do not routinely perform strengthening exercises!) – this can contribute to impaired balance and mobility, making it more difficult to both maintain stability and recover from trips/stumbles
- Chronic health conditions which effect mobility, gait, strength, and coordination – such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and stroke
- Impaired vision – age-related changes can result in reduced ability to spot hazards/perceive depths or distances correctly
- Medications – certain medications (or combinations of medications) can lead to symptoms such as drowsiness, dizziness, or light-headedness
- Environmental hazards – poor lighting, uneven flooring/paths, and tripping hazards
How can Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology help?
There is strong evidence to show that 1 in 3 falls could be prevented with the use of exercise programs which feature balance and functional exercises. Importantly, these effective exercise programs have also been shown to reduce the rate of falls (number of falls per person).
As Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists, we can assess your current risk of falls by testing areas such as your walking pattern and speed, balance, and strength. We can then help to build your confidence and reduce your falls risk by addressing modifiable risk factors. This may include:
- Providing education (such as strategies for getting up from a fall, addressing environmental hazards, providing footwear recommendations)
- Prescription of a walking aid
- Creating a tailored exercise program to improve your balance and strength
What services do we have at Back In Motion Rosny Park to help reduce your risk of falls?
- 1:1 assessments to determine your individual needs/areas requiring improvement
- 1:1 gym sessions with a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist
- Physiotherapy and Exercise Physiology supervised gym classes
- Chair Pilates classes
Give our friendly team a call (03 6281 2499) to find out more!
Author: Eve Dudley (Physiotherapist)
References
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/falls#:~:text=Each%20year%20an%20estimated%20684,medical%20attention%20occur%20each%20year.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378512213000546
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7868456/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30703272/