Fall Risk Assessments

Why is Balance & Fall Risk Assessment Important:

• One in three people aged 65 and older fall each year.
• Over 11 million physician visits annually involve a complaint of balance related issues.
• The Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) reports the mortality rate from falls among older Americans has increased 39% between 1999 and 2005.
• When a person over the age of 65 experiences a significant fall, 30% result in death within one to two years; 40% need a nursing home; 50% who make it to rehabilitation never walk unaided again.
• The CDC indicated in 2000 the direct costs of all fall injuries for people over the age of 65 in the United States was more than $19 billion. CDC estimates that by the year 2020, that number will far exceed $54 billion.

The FREE Balance Assessment at BSR Physical Therapy:

Physical therapists can use a number of tests and measures to determine a person’s risk of falling.  It is important to match the correct tool with the correct patient/client and setting to aptly measure falls risk. This may require using more than one tool to take into account the multiple factors that may contribute to the patient’s/client’s falls risk.  Components of the assessment typically include some of the following:

• Interview & discussion of home situation, prior history of falls, medication list, any fear of falling and other items that may suggest a patient is at increased risk for falls.
• Blood pressure screening
• Valid and standardized balance tests that have been shown to predict fall risk: Timed Up & Go Test, Four Square Step Test, Chair Stand Test.
• Discussion and recommendations of what can be done to decrease the risk of falling

Assessments are by appointment only so please call our office to schedule your Free Balance & Fall Risk Assessment: (609) 698-1073.