By using this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. To find out more visit our privacy policy.
Physical therapy can make a difference—not just in recovery, but in falls prevention.
Falls are a major public health concern. According to the CDC, more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States, and 20% to 30% of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries. Falls can exact a toll long after the initial injury, outranking chronic kidney disease, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias in terms of effects on disability-adjusted life years, according to a 2017 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study.
The physical therapy profession's role in falls risk reduction and prevention is supported by a strong body of research. What we do works.
Sept. 23-27 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Week.
Recommended Content
Jul 14, 2023
Understanding the economic value of physical therapy in the U.S. when dealing with falls prevention in terms of the quality-of-life benefits from receiving treatment.
Jan 16, 2013 / Article
PTs help people manage their fall risk.
Sep 21, 2020 / Handouts
Advocate to employers, peers, and the general public on the value of physical therapy in reducing falls.
Sep 20, 2019 / Article
Here are some APTA-recommended resources that can help you gain a deeper understanding of the impact of falls on our health system, and what can be done to reduce falls risk.
Additional Balance and Falls Content
Mar 19, 2025 / Position Paper
APTA strongly supports this act aimed at expanding and increasing access to falls screening and prevention in order to reduce the use of opioids that often occur as a result of a fall.
Mar 3, 2025 / Position Paper
The American Physical Therapy Association strongly supports the SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act (S. 688 / H.R. 3183). The legislation would establish an Office of Falls Prevention within the Veterans Health Administration, tasked with preemptively identifying and treating veterans at risk of falling. The SAFE STEPS for Veterans Act was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and in the House by Reps. Nikki Budzinski, D-Ill., Lois Frankel, D-Fla., Jen Kiggans, R-Va., Jack Bergman, R-Mich., and Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla.
Sep 5, 2024 / News
This year, the focus is on falls prevention — something every PT and PTA plays a role in.
Sep 19, 2023 / Article
Patients receiving physical therapy within three months of diagnosis reported significantly lower rates of falls as much as 12 months later.
Dec 9, 2022 / Article
In the U.S., mortality rates from unintentional falls have risen dramatically between 2000 and 2020, nearly tripling for women 85 and older.
Sep 1, 2022 / Feature
All older adults should be screened for risk of falling. With National Falls Prevention Awareness week happening in September, here's a recap of reasons why and resources to help PTs meet that standard.
Mar 23, 2022 / Roundup
APTA continues to expand an important member benefit. Here are the latest additions.
Jan 13, 2022 / Article
Functional movement disorders (FMD) are characterized by a sudden onset of neurological symptoms resulting in abnormal involuntary movements with symptom variability that cannot be explained by a conventional neurological or medical disorder.
Sep 22, 2021 / Roundup
For Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a collection of recent research articles that focus on the intersection between falls and COVID-19.
May 27, 2021 / Review
A new report from CDC highlights the need for more emphasis on falls prevention — including referrals for physical therapy.