005 – Interview: Otago & Proven Exercises for Fall Prevention

In This Episode:

Dr. K interviews Tiffany Shubert, PhD MPT, a practicing physical therapist on faculty at the University of North Carolina, and a leading expert on exercise programs for fall prevention. They discuss:

• What types of exercise work best for fall prevention, and why
• Why strength and balance exercises are so important for aging adults
• Why walking is not enough, when it comes to fall prevention
• Easy tests you can do at home, to check an older person’s leg strength and balance
• What’s involved in the Otago Exercise Program, an exciting new physical therapy program proven to reduce falls in older adults and endorsed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• How to find Otago near you
• Why any exercise or physical therapy program for fall prevention should involve exercises done in standing, that are challenging, that get more challenging over time, and that involve at least two hours/week of exercises
• Other proven programs to reduce falls in older adults
• Tips on doing fall prevention exercises in people with Alzheimers or other dementias

Related Episodes:

052 – Maintaining Mobility & Preventing Falls in Aging: Myths & Truths

004 – What to Do if You’re Worried About Falls

Related Resources:

• Carolina Geriatric Education Center: Otago Resources
  • Otago Implementation Guide (designed for use by physical therapists)
  • Otago Exercise Guide (for older adults)

• Videos Demonstrating All Exercises Used in Otago
• How to do the 30 Second Chair Rise Test (to check is score is ok for age, see here)
• How to do the 4 Stage Balance Test
• Information on other fall prevention programs:
  • Stepping On
  • A Matter of Balance
  • National Council on Aging (NCOA): Evidence-Based Fall Prevention Programs
  • FallProof Program
  • iStandFit (online program for Otago exercises)