What Is Fall-Risk Assessment?
Falls are a common cause of broken bones in older adults, including wrist, hip and spine fractures. A fall can also shake your confidence and lead you to move less, which weakens muscles further. Many of the things that lead to falls can be found and improved.
A fall-risk assessment looks at the main factors that affect your stability:
- Balance: how steady you are standing, turning and reaching
- Strength: especially in the hips, thighs and ankles
- Gait: the way you walk, including speed, step length and use of a cane or walker
- Medications: medicines or combinations that can cause dizziness, drowsiness or low blood pressure
- Home hazards: loose rugs, poor lighting, stairs without rails and bathroom risks
Performed by our physical therapy team in our office, where therapists share your chart with your physician.
Who Is a Candidate?
An assessment may help you if any of these apply:
- You have fallen in the past year, or nearly fallen
- You feel unsteady when walking, turning or getting up from a chair
- You have osteoporosis or have had a fracture from a minor fall
- You have hip or knee arthritis, or are recovering from joint replacement
- You take several medicines or have dizziness
- You are worried about falling and have started limiting your activities
What to Expect
Your visit starts with questions about any falls, your health conditions, your medications and your home. Your therapist then watches you walk, stand up from a chair, turn and balance in different positions, and checks the strength and flexibility of your legs and core. These are simple, standardized tests that help measure your risk and track progress over time.
Afterward, your therapist explains what they found and builds a plan. It often includes balance and strength exercises, safe walking practice, advice on footwear and assistive devices, and a checklist of home changes. If a medication may be adding to your risk, we flag it for your physician or prescribing doctor to review. If you have osteoporosis or a recent fracture, Dr. Adelman or Dr. Michael Baskin may also be involved in your care.
Risks and Side Effects
The assessment itself is low risk. Balance tests are done with a therapist right beside you, and we adjust them to your level. Exercise programs start gently and progress as you get stronger. Tell your therapist about chest pain, shortness of breath or new dizziness during activity.
Recovery
There is no recovery time. If therapy is recommended, sessions are usually held once or twice a week for several weeks, along with exercises you do at home. The length of the program varies with your goals and progress.
Because our physical therapists work in the same office as your orthopedic physicians and share your chart, your fall prevention plan can be coordinated with arthritis care, fracture follow-up or rehab after joint replacement.
Physical therapy happens in our office, with therapists who share your chart. Learn about on-site physical therapy.
Insurance and Cost
Medicare and most commercial PPO plans generally cover physical therapy evaluation and treatment when it is medically necessary, such as after a fall or when balance problems affect your daily life. Deductibles and co-pays apply. HMO plans need a referral from your primary care physician before the visit. Our team verifies your benefits when you call.
When to Talk to a Specialist
Call our office if you have fallen, feel unsteady, or have started avoiding activities because you are afraid of falling. Earlier is better, before a fall leads to a fracture.
If you fall and cannot get up, cannot bear weight, have a visible deformity, or hit your head and feel confused or unwell, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
