Webinar Description:
Over 1/3 of older adults fall each year, with many of them resulting in injuries, fractures and/or loss of independence. In fact, falls are the number one cause of accident-related deaths in older adults. The problem is so pervasive because there are over 160 independent risk factors that can lead to falls, including internal factors such as age-related sensory changes or medication interactions and external factors such as bad weather conditions or poor lighting. Exercise has been shown to be effective at reducing falls but it is difficult to determine the appropriate components for an individualized exercise program due to the variety of physical factors (e.g., muscle strength/power, balance, gait) that contribute to fall risk. This webinar will instruct viewers on how to perform three validated physical assessments that quantify an individual?s fall risk. Viewers will then learn how to interpret these results to construct an individualized, multi-component exercise program for any older adult. Finally, a systematic approach to exercise progression and regression will be introduced.