Balance & Fall Treatment
in Maryland & Delaware

A physical therapist can conduct a brief check (“screening”) of your fall risk. If the screening shows that you are at risk, the therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, including:

• Review of your medical history

• Review of your medications

• Simple vision test

• Home safety assessment

• Simple test of your thinking abilities

• Check of your heart rate and blood pressure measurements at rest and while you change positions (from sitting/lying to standing)

• Foot and footwear assessment

• Balance, strength, and walking ability assessment

Based on the evaluation results, your physical therapist will design a plan that is tailored to your needs. Your treatment plan may include:

Balance training. Balance training has been shown to be an important and effective part of falls prevention. Your physical therapist will design exercises that challenge your ability to keep your balance as well as recover from a loss of balance, including exercises such as single-leg standing, or holding your balance while performing an action like reciting the alphabet.

Walking and moving. A prescribed exercise program should include a walking program. However, starting a walking program with poor balance can actually increase your risk for falling. Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist before you initiate a walking program to make sure that it is the right choice for you.

While working with a physical therapist, you may be asked to perform activities, such as:

• Dance steps

• Walking in circles

• “Figure 8” exercises to strengthen the core abdominal muscles that help stabilize your body

• Working through an obstacle course

• Doing more than one thing at the same time—safely. 

Older adults who have difficulty walking and talking at the same time are at a higher risk of falling. To help increase your safety during daily activities, your physical therapist can design a “dual-task” training program. This kind of training will challenge you to maintain walking speed, while you perform another task, such as counting backward, engaging in a conversation, or carrying a bag of groceries.

Strength training. 

Strengthening is a key element of fall prevention and is very effective in preventing falls, especially when combined with balance exercises. Your physical therapist will design an individualized strengthening program that focuses on specific muscle groups to help improve your standing balance, your balance while walking, and your ability to recover from a loss of balance.

Endurance training. 

Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity and long duration; it can help improve almost every aspect of your health, especially your endurance. Your physical therapist can work with you to plan a safe aerobic program, such as a walking or an aquatic program, to address your specific needs. The program may start with as little as 10-minute sessions and progress to 30-minute sessions, as your endurance improves.

Pain management. 

Pain management plays a crucial role in older adults’ risk for falling and quality of life. Certain exercises, such as strengthening and aerobic exercises, are appropriate interventions to relieve pain in addition to decreasing fall risk. Treatments need to be modified appropriately, depending on each individual’s source of pain. Physical therapy has been shown to help individuals reduce or eliminate their need for pain medication, including opioids.

Education.

Your physical therapist will take the time to explain how you can best manage your own risks for falling. Your therapist also may talk to you about the best activities to help maintain your quality of life, and offer educational resources, such as:

• National Council on Aging. Falls prevention. 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. STEADI – older adult fall prevention. 
• Fall Prevention Center of Excellence. 
   

Fear management. It is important for you to talk with your physical therapist about the fear you have of falling. The therapist will work with you to build your confidence and help you get back to the activities that you may be avoiding because you are afraid of falling. Your individual assessment can also identify the activities that you actually should avoid to stay safe.

Community programs. Several community-based fall-prevention programs are promoted by the Injury Prevention and Control Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the Administration on Aging. These programs help people:

• Reduce their fear of falling

• Set goals for increasing their physical activity

• Make their homes more safe

• Exercise more to increase their strength and balance

These programs often are led by volunteer coaches. Your physical therapist may be involved in setting up one of these programs or can help you find programs in your area that are best for you.

Personal recommendations. Your physical therapist can provide personal recommendations based on your condition and goals to help you:

• Increase the safety of your home environment by making changes, such as removing throw rugs or clutter
• Adjust how you complete your daily tasks to reduce your fall risk
• Choose appropriate footwear
• Learn about proper nutrition, improving your sleep schedule, and other general information that can help reduce your fall risk
• Meet with other health care providers when appropriate