Part 2: Practical Tips and Exercises to Prevent Falls in the Elderly

Now that we’ve discussed the importance of physiotherapy and the risk factors associated with falls in older adults, let’s dive into practical tips for falls prevention and exercises that can help improve balance and lower leg strength.

Part 1: Understanding the Risk Factors and How Physiotherapy Can Help

As we age, our bodies naturally undergo changes that can affect mobility, balance, and strength. For many elderly individuals, falls represent one of the greatest health risks, often leading to severe injuries such as hip fractures, head trauma, or even death. The good news is that with the right prevention strategies and interventions, the risk of falls can be significantly reduced. One such intervention is physiotherapy, which can help improve strength, balance, and flexibility, all of which are key to preventing falls.

Is arthritis making the daily tasks you never had to think twice about increasingly harder? Whether your knees have started to protest the short stroll down to the local shops, or painlessly moving up the stairs is now a distant memory, you aren’t alone. 

Approximately 2.2 million Australians have osteoarthritis, with 12% of women affected and 6.8% of men. Of those who suffer from arthritis, one in five experience high levels of pain and distress, while one in two experience moderate to severe pain. 

But pain, as we age, is normal – right? Wrong. If you’ve been accepting osteoarthritic pain as a fact of life, we have great news. There’s a unique, leading exercise and education program designed specifically for people with hip or knee osteoarthritis that offers lasting results. It’s called GLA:D – Good Life with Arthritis: Denmark, and it’s helping to increase mobility and significantly reduce the day-to-day pain experienced by people with osteoarthritis across the world.