Fall Prevention
Fall prevention in physical therapy starts with finding what puts you at risk, then building the strength, balance and confidence to lower it. Xcelerate Physical Therapy treats unsteadiness and fear of falling at our clinic in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, in coordination with your doctor.
Who should ask for a fall risk assessment
You do not need to have fallen to benefit. Balance problems become more likely as we get older, and many start suddenly with no obvious cause.
- You have fallen, or you feel as if you are going to fall
- You are unsteady when walking, or you teeter when you stand up
- You are afraid of falling, so you do less than you want to
- You feel lightheaded or faint, or your vision blurs
- Stairs or the bathroom feel risky
What a fall risk assessment looks at
Your physical therapist asks about falls, near falls, medications and health conditions that can affect balance, then tests how you stand, walk and move. A fall risk assessment commonly includes standard balance and walking tests, and your results guide the plan.
We also look at your footwear and your home. Loose rugs, poor lighting, unrestrained pets and other obstacles can all raise your risk of falling, and they are often the quickest things to fix.
What a fall prevention program includes
Your plan is individualized. Depending on what the assessment shows, it can include:
Balance and coordination
Coordination and proprioception exercises train your body to sense where it is in space, which helps you stay steady on uneven ground and when you turn.
Strength and flexibility
Strengthening, stretching and range of motion exercises, plus posture exercises, to build the leg strength and movement you need for stairs, getting up and everyday activity.
Confidence and education
Addressing the specific problems found in your exam helps you regain confidence in your balance and in moving freely. Understanding your diagnosis and how to manage it is part of the therapy.
How a fall prevention plan comes together
Evaluation
Your physical therapist tests your balance, strength and walking, and reviews your history and footwear.
Home safety advice
We go over hazards in your home that raise fall risk and what to change.
Training
You practice balance, strength and walking exercises matched to your results.
Working with your doctor
We coordinate with your doctor, so you get two expert opinions on your balance and a shared plan to lower fall risk.
Balance classes for seniors, and training for elderly parents
People often search for balance classes for seniors, balance training for elderly parents or balance exercises for seniors. At Xcelerate this begins with a physical therapy evaluation and a plan built for that person, not a general program. Family members and caregivers are welcome to be part of the conversation, so ask them to come along or to call us on your behalf.
Dizziness or a spinning feeling that comes from the inner ear is a different problem with its own treatment: see vestibular rehab and balance. Worn joints can also affect how you walk and balance: see arthritis and joint pain.
Cost, coverage and who treats you
Andrew Tavernia, PT, and the rest of our physical therapy team treat patients at our Newtown Square clinic. Fall prevention here is physical therapy, so it is billed to your plan as physical therapy.
Xcelerate Physical Therapy participates in the majority of major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Workers’ Compensation. Call before your first visit and we will tell you whether we participate with your specific plan. The insurance page explains the terms you may see on a bill.
In Pennsylvania you can see a physical therapist without a physician’s referral, but your insurance may require one: call the number on your insurance card to check, or call us before your first visit.
Fall prevention care in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Xcelerate Physical Therapy treats fall prevention at our Newtown Square clinic, 214 S. Newtown Street Road.
In Pennsylvania you can see a physical therapist without a physician’s referral, but your insurance may require one: call the number on your insurance card to check, or call us before your first visit.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.