Balance and Falls with Elders

Abstract

Physical and occupational therapists working with elders will commonly encounter those who have a history of falls or potential for falls. Therapists need strong clinical reasoning skills to work effectively with these elders due to the complexity of balance problems. This paper reviews concepts about balance/falls in the context of a clinical reasoning process. Use of clinical reasoning is addressed for balance assessments and treatment.

Key Words:

• Clinical reasoning
• falls
• assessments
• treatment

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helene Lohman

Jennifer R. Johnson was a graduate student in the School of Occupational Therapy, Texas Woman's University, Houston, TX at the time of this study. She is currently employed as an Occupational Therapist at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, LA

Debra Stewart is Lecturer, School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University and staff therapist at Erinoak Centre, Missis-sauga, Ontario. She is currently completing a MSc (Design, Measurement and Evaluation) at McMaster University.