Next Wave Falls Prevention programs are designed to help you enhance your strength and balance, leading to greater confidence both at home and in your everyday life.
Who Needs a Falls Prevention Program?
Falls prevention isn’t just for the elderly; it’s essential for everyone, regardless of age. Staying active throughout life helps maintain strength, agility, and fitness, which are crucial for preventing falls.
Individuals at Higher Risk of Falls Include:
- Those who have fallen recently (within the past 3-12 months)
- Individuals with reduced confidence in their mobility
- People who have undergone ankle, knee, or hip surgery
- Those with osteoarthritis
- Individuals experiencing decreased balance
- People with poor lower limb strength and/or flexibility
- Those with neurological disorders affecting mobility
- Individuals with persistent pain
Age-related changes, such as decreased muscle mass, strength, bone density, and sensory function, can also increase the risk of falls.
Top Tips for Falls Prevention
1. Manage Your Health
- Eat a balanced diet, paying attention to iron intake
- Stay hydrated
- Monitor medications and their side effects (dizziness, drowsiness) and consult your GP if needed
- Spend time outdoors for sunlight exposure (Vitamin D)
- Get sufficient sleep
- Manage continence issues
2. Implement Safety Strategies at Home
- Ensure adequate lighting (consider sensor night lights)
- Wear supportive, non-slip shoes
- Remove trip hazards like loose mats and clutter
- Use mobility aids and equipment if necessary
- Ask for help with tasks involving heavy lifting, reaching, or bending
3. Stay Active
- Increase daily activity levels
- Incorporate functional movements whenever possible
- Exercise with others for added motivation and support
- Choose activities that suit your needs (walking, swimming, tai chi, Pilates)
Our Physio’s & OT’s can help with this – The more active you are, the greater your muscle strength, flexibility, balance & stamina.
4. Get Professional Help
Next Wave Therapy have a team of experts that can assist you with fall prevention, this includes:
- Our physiotherapists assess musculoskeletal and neural factors impacting balance and mobility, helping you improve movement, balance, strength, and stamina
- Our occupational therapists evaluate functional mobility and your home environment, addressing factors like vision, confidence, stress, sleep, fatigue, and continence that contribute to falls risk
- Our naturopaths offer guidance on diet and nutrition
We work closely with your allied health team and may refer you to:
- Your GP for medication review or health concerns
- A podiatrist for foot or footwear issues
Falls Prevention Programs at Next Wave Therapy
Our exercise rehabilitation programs in O’Connor (Fremantle area) focus on falls prevention and include:
- GLA:D Exercise Program for Osteoarthritis
- Pilates for strength, balance, and flexibility
- Exercise rehabilitation for pain care, injury management, and pre/post-surgery
- Strength training for osteoporosis
- Home assessment and personalised home programs
We are committed to helping you move, think, and feel more confident in your home and life.
Find out more about how we can help you here
