Understanding It
Why a Fall Matters
The physical injury is only part of it. What often does more damage is what follows: a loss of confidence, doing less to avoid another fall, and the strength and balance decline that results from doing less. That cycle is why a first fall so strongly predicts a second.
Falls are rarely caused by one thing. They are usually a combination: reduced strength, poor balance, a medication side effect, low blood pressure on standing, poor vision, unsuitable footwear, a hazard in the home, and a task the person should not have been doing alone. Each is modifiable, which is why proper assessment is worthwhile.
When to Act
When to Seek Help
See your GP within a few days after any fall, even without injury. A fall warrants a medication review, blood pressure checks lying and standing, and a look for underlying causes.Arrange an allied health assessment if there have been repeated falls or near misses, someone has stopped going out because they are afraid of falling, or they are struggling to get up from a chair or the floor.
Seek urgent medical care after a fall if the person has:
- Hit their head — particularly if they take blood-thinning medication, in which case seek assessment even if they seem fine, as bleeding can be delayed
- Lost consciousness, even briefly
- Severe pain, obvious deformity, or is unable to bear weight — possible fracture
- New confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, or worsening headache
- Chest pain, palpitations or breathlessness — before or after the fall
- Been on the floor for a prolonged period — this carries risks including dehydration and muscle breakdown, and needs medical assessment
Causes & Risk
What Increases the Risk
- Previous falls, the strongest single predictor
- Reduced leg strength and balance
- Certain medications, particularly sedatives, blood pressure medication and taking four or more medicines
- Dizziness or blood pressure dropping on standing
- Poor vision, or new glasses, particularly multifocals on stairs
- Foot pain, foot deformity or unsuitable footwear
- Home hazards: rugs, cords, poor lighting, no rails, cluttered walkways
- Conditions affecting movement, including stroke, Parkinson's, arthritis and neuropathy
- Cognitive change affecting judgement of risk
- Continence problems causing rushing to the toilet, particularly at night
- Alcohol
- Fear of falling itself, which alters how someone moves
How We Help
How Our Team Can Help
Falls prevention works. It is one of the better-evidenced areas in allied health, but only when the program is properly dosed and sustained, not a leaflet and a handrail.
Physiotherapy
Progressive strength and balance training at a level that genuinely challenges balance, which is what the evidence supports. Also gait retraining, mobility aid assessment and training, and practising getting up from the floor, which reduces the consequences of any future fall.
Occupational Therapy
Home safety assessment and modification, equipment such as rails and raised seating, bathroom and bedroom set-up, lighting, footwear advice, and strategies for the specific tasks and times of day where falls occur.
Nursing
Medication review support, continence assessment where night-time toileting is a factor, and monitoring of blood pressure and other contributors.
Programs need to run for long enough to change underlying capacity. A few sessions will not do it, and we will be honest with you about that.
Starting Out
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Assessment happens at home. Your clinician will ask what happened (where, what time, what the person was doing), because the circumstances usually reveal the cause.
They will assess strength, balance and walking, watch how the person moves around their own home, review footwear, and walk through the house identifying hazards. Nursing input may include medication and continence review.
You will receive a written plan covering exercise, environment, equipment and any referrals needed, with a report to your GP.
Ready to book?
Ready to get started?
Contact inOne Healthcare on 1300 765 456 or submit a referral online. Falls are addressed by our Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Nursing teams.
info@inonehealthcare.com.au
Flexible Options
Funding we accept.
Support at Home
AT-HM scheme
Medicare
NDIS
Private
Free 20min Consultation
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