Falling is a devestating event that can be potentially fatal.   Falling is basically caused by two main factors.

1.  A person fails to judge their environment properly (i.e. did not see a trip)

2. A person fails to react to the environment appropriately (step in response to a trip)

If we can work to prevent both of these factors that the chances of falling are greatly reduced.

Point 1:   What is failing to judge your enviroment and how can we help this?

Judging the enviroment relies upon all of your senses.   If any of these senses are impaired it will lead to a less accurate judgement of the enviroment.   This includes eye sight, hearing, touch, smell and alertness.   All of these must be tested, monitored and appropriate items used to enhance them.  This includes glasses, hearing aids, appropriate footwear and doing potentially risky activities at an appropriate time of day i.e. when you are most alert.

This may also include seeing your General Practitioner, Specialist Doctor and Other Health Profesionals for their advice and input.  This may include medications, surgery, supplements, specific retraining exercises.

Point 2: What is failing to react appropriately?

This means that after you have seen a potential hazard or you have started to fall can you correct your bodies position to prevent a fall?

This includes all aspects of your Physical performance.

• Strength, (Please Click to See Exercises – Upper Body, Lower Body, Postural)
• Speed,
• Reaction Time,
• Balance,
• Co ordination,
• Alertness, etc.

Luckily all of these can be retrained and improved with the proper direction given by your Physiotherapist.  Basic exercising (such as walking, aerobics, swimming etc) is great for you, however if you have fallen or had a near fall you will need a more detailed assessment to find out why and how to specifically address these problems.