What Can Physiotherapists Do to Prevent Falls?
Physiotherapists can play a vital role in preventing falls in the elderly population.
They can:
work with individuals to improve strength, balance, and mobility through exercise
assess their fall risk through a fall screening
provide education on fall prevention and fall recovery
assess the home environment and recommend home modifications to reduce the risk of falls
provide caregiver and patient education on monitoring postural hypotension, a condition that can cause dizziness and increase the risk of falls
What Is Included In A Falls Screening?
Based on the World Falls Guidelines For Fall Prevention and Management For Older Adults, the screening should start with a single question ‘Have you fallen in the last 12 months?’. This question is highly predictive of future falls, but may not consider all factors as discussed in our previous article, hence further screening needs to take place to truly determine fall risk. Physiotherapists will also look at gait speed or the Timed Up and Go test to determine fall risk.
There are 3 fall risk categories with different recommendations:
· Low Risk: older adults at low risk for falls should be offered education about falls prevention and exercise for general health and/or fall prevention if interested
· Intermediate Risk: older adults at intermediate risk for falls, who in addition to the above, should be offered targeted exercise or a physiotherapist referral to improve balance and muscle strength, and reduce their fall risk
· High Risk: older adults at high risk for falls should be offered a multifactorial falls risk assessment to inform individualized tailored interventions
Criteria include ‘has had a fall in the past 12 months AND one of the following:
Had an injury
2 or more falls in the last year
Frailty
Lying on the floor/unable to get up
Loss of or suspected loss of consciousness
What Treatments Can be Done, Post Falls?
If a fall occurs, physiotherapists can play a crucial role in the recovery process. They will support the injury recovery process if any, aiming for the individual to achieve their previous functional status and reintegrate them into the community if possible. They will provide exercises targeted to improve muscular strength, muscular endurance, balance, and coordination to decrease the risk of subsequent falls. Education will be done to the person and their caregiver on preventing a second fall and a fall recovery program – proper techniques on how to get up in the event of a fall or when to call for help.
Physiotherapists can also review the need for walking aids, such as canes or walkers, and assess for any gait or balance deficits that may increase the risk of falls. By providing a holistic approach to care, physiotherapists can support individuals in their journey to regain their independence and improve their quality of life.
Home Assessment
Physiotherapists can conduct a home review to understand any environmental or other factors that may increase an individual's risk of falls. This can include assessing for clutter, slippery surfaces, and uneven floors and recommending home modifications to reduce the risk of falls. A home review allows the physiotherapist to explore the community surroundings specific to the person, providing individualized recommendations on preventing a fall.
Conclusion
From providing fall prevention education to conducting home reviews and supporting recovery after a fall, physiotherapists can help individuals maintain and improve their quality of life. If you or a loved one is at risk of falls, consider seeking the services of a physiotherapist to help prevent falls and maintain a high quality of life. Contact us today for more information.
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