Balance and Fall Prevention Program

More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the U.S. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and non-fatal injuries.

Our program helps individuals experiencing balance difficulties regain strength and improve their balance, thereby reducing their risk of suffering a fall and subsequent injury.

Simple steps to improve balance

The first step in addressing participants' balance concerns is determining where they may have deficits. There are many factors affecting balance. Specifically, our experienced staff will evaluate:

• Spinal and extremity range of motion
• Muscular strength
• Vestibular (inner ear) function
• Vision
• Functional tasks
• Risk factors in the home and community

After we do a thorough assessment, we will develop a comprehensive program to address participants' unique strengths and weaknesses. This program will target the physiological components that affect balance, including the visual, vestibular, somatosensory and musculoskeletal systems.

Contributing factors to impaired balance

Many medical conditions can affect balance and increase an individual's risk of falling. Our trained therapy professionals can work to improve balance in participants experiencing:

• Chronic conditions, including neuromuscular disorders
• Cognitive impairment
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Reduced vision, including age-related changes
• Reduced hearing ability
• Central and peripheral vestibular dysfunction