Do You Feel Unsteady? Physical Therapy Can Help with Fall Prevention
Have you ever felt a bit off, dizzy, or shaky—as if you might faint at any moment? Have you ever stumbled and had to grab a nearby railing or piece of furniture to steady yourself? Are you worried about getting injured as a result of a fall?
Unfortunately, most people don’t think about maintaining their balance until it’s too late and a serious fall has already occurred. The good news is that most falls can be prevented by regularly training and strengthening your balance system through physical therapy.
Common Conditions That Increase the Risk of Falls
Some people are at a higher risk of falling than others. Certain risk factors include:
- Fatigue
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Poor overall health
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Being female
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- A history of previous falls
- Diabetes
- Previous stroke or heart attack
- Arthritis or chronic joint pain
- Heart disease
- Advanced age
- Vision problems
- Difficulty walking or maintaining balance
Our physical therapist will review your medical history to assess any risk factors you may have, explain what they mean, and show you how to reduce your risk. After that, a comprehensive physical evaluation will be performed to determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.
Am I at Risk of Falling?
When determining whether you may be at a higher risk of falling and injury, there are several warning signs to be aware of.
It’s important to contact a physical therapist if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Double vision or tunnel vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Weakness in the arms or legs
- Abnormal eye movements
- Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning sensation, even when still)
- Difficulty concentrating or staying alert
- Trouble standing up from a seated position or standing for long periods of time
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, vestibular physical therapy and/or a fall prevention program at Recover Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation could be highly beneficial and help reduce your risk of falling.
What Does a Typical Fall Prevention Treatment Plan Look Like?
Your initial physical evaluation may include vision screenings, resting and active heart rate checks, as well as assessments of gait, balance, range of motion, and strength. Based on the results of these evaluations, our physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.
Common physical therapy approaches for fall prevention may include:
- Walking and movement programs: This part of your treatment plan focuses on restoring normal function during walking and movement. Your physical therapist may ask you to perform activities such as walking in circles or completing an obstacle course.
- Balance training: This portion of your plan may involve balance-specific exercises, such as standing on one leg or maintaining balance while performing cognitively demanding tasks (for example, reciting the alphabet or reading a page from a book).
- Pain management: Your treatment plan will address any pain you’re experiencing as early as possible to support safe and effective movement.
- Endurance training: Your physical therapist will design an aerobic conditioning program, gradually increasing the duration of your sessions as your endurance improves.
- Strength training: Your physical therapist will create a strength training program focused on specific muscle groups that need reinforcement. This helps improve balance while standing and walking, as well as your ability to recover if a fall occurs.