Reasons can include inner ear disturbances, muscle weakness, loss of joint range of movement, visual difficulties, and changes to sensation. Damage to the nervous system can alter the information it sends to your brain and how it interprets this can affect your balance. There may also be environmental factors contributing to falls such as uneven flooring, poor lighting, lack of supportive equipment or walking aids.

Aside from the physical impact of a fall, the psychological impact can become a greater risk factor of future falls. Having just one fall can be stressful and traumatic. This can lead to a loss of confidence which may result in a person choosing to be less active to avoid the risk of falling.

When less active, muscles become weaker, joints become stiffer and balance can deteriorate, increasing the risk of future falls.

Physiotherapy can break this cycle, and also help to identify and reduce the root cause of the fall both physically and environmentally. There are various ways we can help.

Strength Training

Following assessment of your muscle strength, joint range of movement and function, we can provide an individualised programme that builds muscle strength and improves flexibility, which also builds bone strength and density. Both muscle strength and increased bone density can reduce the risk of injury if you do fall.

Balance Training

Having assessed your balance, we will identify key factors that will form the basis of balance training, using balance platforms and virtual programs often alongside the strength training programme.

Coping strategies

We can plan, discuss and practice what to do if you fall. These may include techniques to safely get up from the floor and how to stay safe whilst waiting for help.

Review of walking aids

We will be able to advise on assisted equipment to aid your walking, such as modifications to your current walking aid or exploring other mobility options that may be more suitable.

Vestibular rehabilitation

When the vestibular / inner ear organs are damaged with disease or injury the brain may not receive enough information for the balance system to function properly. This can cause dizziness, vertigo (a feeling of movement or the world moving around you) and imbalance.

Over time, your brain can learn to adapt to the new messages it receives from your impaired vestibular system, as long as you carry on completing your usual daily activities. This is known as compensation.

Where symptoms continue and activities can no longer be done due to the severity of the imbalance then Vestibular rehabilitation can assist.

Vestibular rehabilitation is designed to speed up this process of compensation, training your brain to adapt to the new messages it is receiving, through appropriate graded exercises and activities. We will provide you with a customised exercise programme to complete at home.