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Advice & exercises

Preventing falls at home

The practical things that lower fall risk: strength, balance, and a safer home.

Preventing falls at home

Most falls are preventable. A mix of staying strong and steady, and making a few changes around the home, makes a real difference, especially for older adults.

Why falls happen

Falls usually come from a combination of things: reduced strength and balance, eyesight, medications, and hazards around the home like loose rugs, poor lighting or clutter. Because there's rarely a single cause, the best prevention tackles a few at once.

What helps

The strongest evidence is for regular strength and balance exercise. It's the part that keeps you able to stay steady and recover a stumble. Alongside that, a quick look around the home for trip hazards, good lighting, and secure handrails goes a long way.

If you've already had a fall, it's worth getting assessed properly rather than waiting for the next one.

When to see a physio

A physiotherapist can carry out a falls-risk assessment, find what's contributing, and build a strength-and-balance plan to lower your risk. See our falls prevention & balance page, or get in touch.

This is general information, not medical advice. For a diagnosis and a plan for your situation, come and see us.

Select Physiotherapy · Hamilton

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A physiotherapist guiding a patient through a movement exercise