Falls Prevention and Balance

03 May Falls Prevention and Balance

By Michael Hasson (Physiotherapist)

As Mother Nature makes us all older, an increased risk of falls is one of the most serious problems we have to face. Approximately one third of people aged 65 and over living in the community fall at least once a year. One fifth of these people suffer multiple falls.

What might cause falls?

There can be multiple factors that play a role in falls and related injuries, however poor balance is the cause of the majority of falls in older adults. Human balance depends on the interaction of our senses (sight, touch etc.) and our ability to control the movement of our bodies. These abilities decline significantly as we age. This can lead to falls, even when there are no identifiable neurological or musculoskeletal problems. For further information on how our balance systems work, check out the info on Vestibular Rehabilitation on our website.

What can I do to stop myself or a loved one from falling?

Consistent strength and balance exercises have been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of falls. Also, if you’ve already had a fall, exposure to these challenging situations can significantly decrease your fear of falling through graded exposure. A Cochrane Systematic Review (very high quality research) found that group and home-based exercise programs, usually containing some balance and strength training exercises, effectively reduced falls. Overall, exercise programs aimed at reducing falls appear to reduce fractures.

Are falls a major problem in Australia?

Falls are a huge problem for older Australians. Falls are the leading cause of injury related death and hospitalisation for people aged 65 and over. At least 40% of people who have been hospitalised because of a fall require subsequent care in a Nursing Home, with a further 10% needing ongoing care from Community services.

Where can I find out more information on falls?

Much of the research into falls focuses on vision, leg sensation, lower limb strength, reaction time and postural stability to understand additional risk factors. It also looks at footwear-surface interactions, confusion and dementia, eyewear, hospital settings, fear and risk-taking behaviour.
Check out these excellent resources on falls:

• Neura – Falls and Balance Health Information
• The Cochrane Library – Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community
• The Cochrane Library – Population-based interventions for the prevention of fall-related injuries in older people
• QLD Health Booklet – Don’t fall for it
• COTA Australia

At Everton Park Physio, our physios are specially trained in falls prevention and balance exercises. If you would like to prevent falls, we would be delighted to help you! Give us a call on 07 3354 1819 to book an appointment with me or one of our other physios.

Michael Hasson

Physiotherapist

Michael has worked as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist for 10 years and is skilled in the use of manual therapy, massage, dry needling, stretches, sports strapping, educating patients to self-manage and various types of exercise prescription including Pilates, Yoga and Gym based exercise. Michael has a particular interest in using Pain Science to explain Chronic pain conditions and specialises in conditions that have been non-responsive to previous treatments.