Fall Prevention
A fall prevention program starts with a fall risk assessment and builds a plan of balance, strength and walking exercises that can reduce your risk of falling. Western Slope Rehab and Performance offers it in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands, for older adults and anyone who feels unsteady.
Train your balance before a fall happens
Most people do not think about their balance until they have fallen. The good news is that balance responds to training like any other skill. If you have had a fall, feel unsteady when walking or are afraid of falling, an assessment can show what is behind it and what to work on.
This is individual physical therapy with your therapist, not a group class, so if you were looking for balance classes for seniors, the plan is built around you.
Risk factors your therapist asks about
Some people are more likely to fall than others. Common risk factors include:
- Previous falls
- Advanced age
- Arthritis or joint pain
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Previous stroke or heart attack
- Parkinson's disease
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Vision problems
- Fatigue
- A sedentary life
- Trouble walking or staying balanced
Your fall risk assessment
We go through your medical history to identify risk factors and explain how they affect your care. A physical exam then guides your plan.
Vision and heart rate
Vision tests and resting and active heart rate checks.
Gait and balance
How you walk and how you hold your balance.
Range of motion and strength
Where you are stiff or weak, which feeds straight into your exercises.
What the program includes
Balance training
Standing on one leg, or keeping your balance while doing something that takes thought, like reciting the alphabet.
Leg and core strength
Targeted strengthening that improves balance while standing and walking, and your ability to recover from a stumble.
Walking work
Circle walking or an obstacle course, to restore normal movement and confidence.
Endurance
A gradual aerobic plan that builds stamina.
Pain care
Any pain that is getting in the way is part of the plan, using Manual Therapy and Therapeutic Exercise.
Who this page is for, and who it is not
Falls are often tied to Arthritis & Joint Pain, diabetes, a past stroke, balance and gait problems or weakness, and a plan can be tailored for each. If your unsteadiness comes with spinning or dizziness, read about Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance care and Vestibular Therapy, which handle inner-ear causes.
Our goal is to help you regain confidence in your balance and lower the chance of a fall-related injury. We cannot promise a fall will never happen.
Get medical help right away if
- you have fallen and hit your head, or you are in severe pain or cannot move a limb: call 911 or go to the ER
- you feel faint or have chest pain, or your dizziness is new and sudden: call your doctor or go to the ER
Related care
Feel steady again in Grand Junction
We see patients from Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands. You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care. If you are unsure, call (970) 314-9822 and we will check your plan. See Direct Access and Insurance.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.