Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admission for older Australians, and the evidence on preventing them is unusually clear: balance and strength training reduces falls, and it needs to be challenging enough to work. Walking alone, though good for you, does not reduce falls. Confidence matters as much as capacity — fear of falling causes people to move less, which makes falling more likely.

Does this sound like you?

Most people have several of these, not all of them.

Unsteadiness turning, or on uneven ground
Near-misses, grabbing furniture, or actual falls
Reduced confidence walking outdoors or in crowds
Difficulty standing from a chair without using the arms
Avoiding activities that used to be routine

Why it happens

Age-related loss of muscle strength and power
Reduced vision, or multifocal glasses on stairs
Inner ear and vestibular changes
Medications, particularly several taken together
Neurological conditions, arthritis and previous injury
Home hazards — mats, cords, poor lighting

What we would do about it

Roughly in this order — each step waits for the one before it.

Assessment of strength, balance and walking with objective measures
Challenging balance training, which is what the evidence supports
Progressive lower limb strength work
Home hazard review and practical modifications
Confidence and activity rebuilding, since fear itself increases risk
Liaison with your GP on medication review and vision checks

See a doctor first if

Your pain followed a significant injury
It is getting worse rather than settling
It comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment.

Walking alone does not prevent falls

The programs that work challenge your balance specifically and safely. If you have had a fall or a near-miss, that is the moment to act rather than wait for the next one.

Book a balance assessment Ask a question first

Or call us on 0403 907 587 — we see patients across Seaton.

Other neurological conditions we treat

Stroke Rehabilitation Parkinson's Disease Multiple Sclerosis Vertigo and BPPV

Back to all neurological conditions

General information only, not advice about your own problem — nothing here replaces an assessment. Source: Balance on Physiopedia.

Balance and Falls