It only takes one fall… or even a close call… to instill fear in your mind. A fear of falling, a fear that can limit your activities, threaten your independence, and shrink your world.
Sometimes being unsteady on your feet has an obvious cause, like being inactive for an extended period of time. Other times the diagnosis of a balance problem is more challenging and requires an integrated, medical approach. In either case, the most important thing to know is that you can improve your balance and stability. In fact, learning more about the causes of falls and participating in focused exercises and activities can help you maintain or regain stability and actually prevent most falls.
A multidimensional approach to preventing falls
Falls are seldom caused by an isolated situation or event,
but by the interplay of multiple factors – physical and
environmental, predictable and unpredictable. It makes
sense, then, that it takes a multidimensional approach to
prevent falls. That’s the fundamental concept behind
FallProof™, a structured and progressive exercise program
offered at the Health and Wellness Center that’s designed to
improve balance, mobility, and flexibility.
Twice each week a dedicated group of men and women gather at the Warrington facility to learn, practice, and incorporate the concepts of this program into their daily lives. “All of our instructors are certified in the FallProof program,” explains Rosemary Goodwin, RN, Health Design nurse and program facilitator. “That’s important, because they not only teach the program, they know how to modify exercises and activities to accommodate varying abilities.”
This eight-week program begins with a pre-assessment to determine individual needs and is followed by a post-assessment to measure progress. During the main part of the program, participants engage in exercises and activities that involve...
The greatest gift
FallProof participants derive many benefits: they enjoy
greater stability, walk with improved posture, and they’re
better able to recover when they do start to lose their
balance. But perhaps the greatest gift of all is the effect
FallProof has on their everyday quality of life. FallProof
“graduates” participate in their favorite activities more fully,
with greater confidence, and with less fear of falling.
To learn more about the FallProof program, call Rosemary Goodwin at 215-918-5994.
