South Edmonton Location
Balance and falls prevention in Edmonton
Balance and falls-prevention physiotherapy at our southeast Edmonton clinic measures leg strength, walking speed and standing stability with standardized tests, then trains what can be trained through a home program progressed at each visit. Vestibular exercises are added if dizziness is involved.
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What balance and falls-prevention physiotherapy is
A fall in later life is rarely bad luck; it is usually the result of measurable declines in leg strength, balance reactions, vision or sensation, sometimes combined with medication, footwear and a home that has not been adapted. Balance and falls-prevention physiotherapy at Vertex assesses those factors, tells you which ones apply to you, and trains the ones that can be trained. Strength and balance exercise is one of the better-evidenced ways to reduce falls in older adults, and it also helps people of any age with unsteadiness after injury, illness or vestibular problems.
The assessment
The results are explained plainly. Most people find it reassuring to know exactly where they stand rather than simply being told to be careful.
- Standardised balance and mobility tests, so your risk and your progress can be measured
- Leg strength and the ability to get up from a chair without hands
- Walking speed and pattern, including turning and dual-tasking
- Vestibular screening if dizziness is part of the picture
- Footwear, walking aids, vision and medication review questions
- Your history of falls or near-falls and what was happening at the time
The training
Balance improves when it is challenged progressively and safely: standing tasks that get narrower and less supported, stepping and reaching, and walking with turns and distractions. Leg strength is built with sit-to-stand, step-ups and similar functional exercises. The program is taught in the clinic and done at home several times a week, with progressions added at each visit.
For people who have had a vestibular problem, specific vestibular exercises are added. For those recovering from a fracture, the balance work runs alongside the fracture rehabilitation.
Practical prevention
Home hazards, lighting, footwear, walking aids and how to get up from the floor are all covered. Where a walking aid would help, the physiotherapist fits and teaches it; where one is being used unnecessarily, weaning off it is part of the plan.
Family members are welcome at appointments. In-home visits are available for people who cannot easily get to the clinic; see in-home physiotherapy.
Questions people ask
I haven't fallen. Should I still be assessed?
If you feel less steady than you used to, avoid activities because of it, or have had a near-miss, yes. Balance declines gradually and is easier to improve before a fall than after one.
Can balance really be improved at my age?
Yes. Balance and leg strength respond to training at any age. The gains are slower in the eighties and nineties than in the sixties, but they are real and they reduce falls.
How often do I need to come?
Typically weekly or every two weeks for a couple of months while the program is set up and progressed, then less often. The home exercise between visits is where most of the improvement happens.
Is dizziness part of this?
It can be. Dizziness from the inner ear is a common cause of unsteadiness and often responds well to vestibular treatment. The assessment screens for it and treats it if present.
Is it covered by benefits?
Yes, as physiotherapy. Extended health plans cover it; some seniors’ benefit programs also apply. No referral is needed.
Do you offer group classes?
Not at present; the program is one-on-one so it can be matched to your level. The physiotherapist can recommend community balance classes in southeast Edmonton for ongoing maintenance.
Book an assessment
Vertex Physiotherapy is at 6958 76 Ave NW #205, Edmonton, AB T6B 2R2. Call (825) 525-2852 or book online. No referral is needed. Direct billing to most extended health plans, WCB and Section B claims.