Fall Prevention Therapy Program

Falls are a leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in adults aged 65 and above. According to the CDC, each year 2.8 million such people are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries. Also, over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of an injury caused  by a fall, most often a head injury or hip fracture. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. Also as per CDC, the direct medical costs for fall injuries is 31 billion dollars annually.

Greendale Physical Therapy offers an evidence-based fall-prevention program. Our aim is to help decrease falls for people most likely to fall and be injured by a fall, and in so doing to reduce healthcare bills that could have been avoided, and to increase quality of life.

Evaluation and Assessment:

Our physical therapists evaluate patients on their first visit to us. A detailed evaluation helps to assess the risk of falls. Examination and evaluation includes the following features:

• Detailed history, including history of recent falls, and use of assistive devices
• Assessment of flexibility and strength
• Specific standardized balance tests (5x sit to stand, TUG, Berg, DGI). You, our patient, will be given a score and will be categorized as being at a low, medium or high risk of falling.
• Based on the evaluation and assessment, we will help design a plan with your individual goals.
• Frequency of the program will be 2-3 sessions per week depending on one’s scoring and needs. Duration will be 4-8 weeks, based on your needs.

Fall Prevention Treatment Sessions:

Each fall-prevention treatment sessions will be broken into 3 parts under the supervision of the treating therapist:

• Endurance training
• Gentle stretching and strength training
• Balance training

Re-evaluation:

We will re-evaluate you at 4 weeks and all the tests will be repeated. You’ll be scored again, based on the re-examination. You and your physical therapist will discuss continuation of physical therapy, depending on the extent to which you’ve met your goals. When appropriate, we will give you a basic HEP (home exercise program) at for continued strength and conditioning.

Contact Greendale Physical Therapy to get started

You don’t have to wait for your doctor to provide you with a referral. You can reach out to our office to make an appointment right now, and we’ll work with your insurance company.

Call us today at 855-459-5000 or request an appointment online to find out if Physical Therapy is right for you.