Falls Prevention
We offer an evidence-based “Falls Prevention” Exercise Program to address the increasing occurrence of trips and falls in the community. Research shows that supervised exercise intervention dramatically reduces the chance of falls.
People with mobility problems due to ill health, accident or injury, become less active, and this further reduces their ability to function normally. As a result motor skills, balance and co-ordination decrease, standing and walking patterns alter, making the individual susceptible to falling.
This is a program suitable for anyone with compromised balance and /or strength, however everyone can benefit, even the fitter older person often takes greater risks and can be vulnerable to falling.
Our experienced and qualified physiotherapists will tailor a program appropriate to the needs of each individual. Exercises may be in a group or one on one and will be varied as confidence grows.
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Our population is aging, and according to a 1999 NSW Health Survey, one in four people over 65 years of age reported having a fall within the last year, one in twelve had a fall that required medical attention. About 50 percent of these people will fall again.
The fear of falling, low levels of confidence, depression and social isolation are all risk factors.
Those less mobile due to poor health or pain, suffer from a reduction in the ability to move and will fairly quickly see a deterioration in coordination, strength, balance and therefore confidence.
People fall for a wide variety of reasons:
- Balance,
- Mobility,
- Strength,
- Fatigue,
- Confidence,
- Medication,
- Environmental conditions at home work and in the wider community; clothing, footwear, crowds, pavements and gardens.
- People suffering from osteoporosis also have an increased risk of falling.
It is well known that the Australian population is aging. This brings an increase in health related conditions, along with a reduction in mobility and therefore, physical confidence.
The NSW government has identified falls as the most common cause of injury in older people, announcing that injuries relating to a falls of all ages costs the health system $40 million annually. They are therefore encouraging health professionals to target this area as a matter of urgency and priority.
The incidence of osteoporosis is on the increase and this can be major contributor to falls.
A fall can result in a variety of injuries including fractures, causing great limitations to lifestyle, a reduction in confidence and an increased dependence on family and community.
- Individually tailored evidence based exercise program.
- Improvement in Balance, Strength, coordination, confidence and mobility.
- Exercise in a safe and supervised environment.
- Opportunity for social interaction.
Clients are assessed by a physiotherapist who will determine which exercises are most effective for their needs.
Clients are supervised by a physiotherapist or trained instructor to ensure they perform the exercises correctly.
Sessions become unsupervised when the programme is fully learned.
Techniques are checked and upgraded when appropriate.
Where appropriate we recommend a series of home based exercise to support the supervised programme.
Recent research undertaken by physiotherapy and orthopaedic professionals has shown that:
Regular supervised exercise targeting BALANCE, STRENGTH and COORDINATION substantially reduces the risk of falling.
People who have experienced a fall increase the likelihood of falling again unless they undertake an appropriate exercise program.
Each fall increases the risk of serious injury.
Exercises need to be specific and tailored to the individual, addressing their ability level.
Falls, whether they result in physical injury or not, impact on psycho-social health. Older people who have fallen often show increased anxiety, loss of confidence, decreased activity and increased dependence due to a fear of falling again.
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