Senior Balance and Falls Risk Assessment

It’s amazing to me that we continue to see more and more baby boomers staying healthier than ever before. They are more active while doing a better job of taking care of their health and wellness. Since we stress exercise and the positive effects of exercise on many issues, it’s real exciting for our PT staff to see more and more healthy, active adults prosper with consistent exercise programs.

It is also interesting that the large part of pre baby boomers sometimes are not quite as excited about exercise and fitness. They are more prone to general fatigue issues, weakness issues, poor balance, fall issues and the worst, general fear of falling.

Due to these factors, Flaherty PT has our own Senior Falls Risk Assessment that is free to anyone in our local communities. The test takes 30-40 minutes and consists of three tests: The Timed Up and Go Test, the Berg Balance Scale and Falls Efficacy Scale.

Our therapists will review your general health issues and take you through the tests and determine, what is your Risk of falling? There are three levels of falling: Low, Medium and High. Once we determine your level, we recommend a program of PT visits and home exercises to help you stay healthy by improving your performance, confidence and strength. We are always striving for getting our patients into healthier and more active lifestyles. Healthier, more confident and stronger patients have more enjoyable lives.

Call us to schedule a free screen today!

Don’t let a fear of falling keep you from being active.

The good news is that there clinically proven ways to prevent most falls and we can help.

A collaborative effort between your doctor and our physical therapy team can make a difference.

It Starts with a Thorough Evaluation

Physical therapy starts with a thorough evaluation of your health & fall risk factors. We will then set up on on a personalized prevention program to address the findings we identify during your initial visit.

Evaluation and Treatment May Involve One or More of the Following:

• Strength testing
• Flexibility testing
• Walking (gait) patterns
• Your health history
• Sight and hearing screenings
• Blood pressure
• Assistive/adaptive device use & education
• Footwear recommendations
• Review of your medications & side effects along with your physician
• Strength training
• Balance training
• Flexibility exercises
• Visual exercises
• Functional exercises
• Weight-bearing exercises
• Sleep hygiene
• Risk reduction/modification education
• A personalized home program

Everyone is different so treatment programs will vary. The best thing you can do is contact our office and schedule an initial evaluation for balance treatment & our fall prevention program. In most cases, insurance will cover it.