A Balanced Approach to Fall Prevention
Falls are the leading cause of injury death and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among older adults. Although prevalent, providers often discover balance deterioration in its aftermath, learning to recognize and treat balance disorders from piecemeal lessons learned the hard way. The rapidly expanding healthcare needs of America's booming geriatric population, combined with strict reporting requirements for Medicare reimbursement effected in 2013, demand that healthcare professionals learn to assess functional measures correctly and, more importantly, prevent falls before they happen.

Learn evidence–based balance examination and rehabilitation techniques with hands–on practice in this comprehensive, one–day seminar. Explore the epidemiology of falls and review current evidence that indicates the effectiveness of the interventions presented, with recommendations for designing programs to achieve functional outcomes for balance rehabilitation. Finally, review basic G–codes to use for maximum reimbursement as you expand your practice with an aging population that relies heavily on Medicare. Step confidently from this seminar with balance assessment and rehabilitation strategies that can be put into practice immediately for measurable objective results while protecting your bottom line.

Course Content

Balance definitions, systems, and strategies

Epidemiology and outcomes of falls

• The aging process

Neuromuscular and medical challenges of aging

• Risk factors in aging, medications, medical conditions, degenerative processes

Examination: screening for balance

• Balance tests
  • Vertebral Artery
  • Timed Up and Go (TUG)
  • Unilateral Stance
  • 5 Times Sit to Stand (5TSS)
  • Step Test
  • Functional Reach
  • Berg Balance Scale
    • lab
  • Falls Efficacy Scale
  • Falls Risk Self-assessment
  • Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale
  • Besttest
  • MiniBestest
  • Brief Bestest
    • lab
• Gait  tests
  • Timed Up and Go
  • 6 Minute Walk Test
  • Figure 8
  • Modified Gate Efficacy Scale
  • Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment
  • Gait Abnormality Rating Scale
  • Dynamic Gait Index
    • lab
  • Star and Y Balance Tests
  • Other balance tests

Interventions to Promote Balance and Prevent Falls

Balance Rehab

• Fall reduction education 
• Therapeutic neuromuscular and functional exercise

• Otago
• LIFE
• Tai Chi
• Wii
• Other balance programs

Active Balance Clinic (ABC) program

Evidence-based outcomes, reliability, and validity studies on balance tools and interventions

Effect of interventions on fall reduction, rates, and risk

Documentation recommendations, G-codes

American Geriatric Society panel recommendations