Falls

One bad step. A lot of fallout. We’re here for both.

A fall can happen in a split second—on the stairs, off a curb, on the ice, in the shower, or just turning too quickly. Sometimes you bounce back with a bruise and a story. Other times you’re left with:

• A sore wrist, shoulder, hip, or back
• Trouble walking without pain
• Fear of falling again

At Timpanogos Physical Therapy, we help with both sides of the problem:

1. Recovering from the injuries caused by a fall
2. Lowering your risk of future falls so it’s less likely to happen again

Common injuries we see after a fall

Falls can be simple—or surprisingly complex. We regularly treat:

• Wrist and hand injuries
  
  • Sprains, strains, and fractures from catching yourself on the way down
• Shoulder and elbow injuries
  
  • Rotator cuff irritation, bruising, dislocations, and painful stiffness after landing on the arm
• Hip, pelvis, and low back pain
  
  • Bruising, muscle strain, joint irritation, or pain after landing on the side or buttocks
• Knee and ankle injuries
  
  • Sprains, meniscus irritation, tendon strain, or fractures from awkward landings or twisting
• Neck pain and headaches
  
  • Whiplash-type strain if the head snaps or impacts the ground
• Concussion-type symptoms (when appropriate to screen and refer)
  
  • Headache, dizziness, fogginess, balance changes

Some injuries show up right away. Others appear hours or days later as things stiffen and swell. Our job is to sort out what’s going on and make a clear plan.

How do we evaluate after a fall

When you come in after a fall, we:

• Listen to the full story of how you fell and what’s hurting now
• Screen for red flags that may need urgent medical or imaging follow-up
• Check movement, strength, balance, and walking
• Look at the whole chain—feet, knees, hips, spine, shoulders—not just one sore spot

If we feel further imaging is needed, we can order X-rays or MRIs when appropriate, or help coordinate with your other medical providers. The goal is to make sure you’re getting the proper care at the right time, not just “rest and hope.”

How we treat fall-related injuries

Your treatment plan depends on the injuries you’ve sustained, but may include:

Manual therapy

Gentle, hands-on work to:

• Calm down, tight, guarded muscles
• Improve joint motion in the spine, hips, knees, shoulders, or ankles
• Help reduce soreness and stiffness so movement feels more natural again

Targeted exercise

We’ll build a doable plan that might include:

• Gentle motion early on to reduce stiffness and swelling
• Gradual strengthening for hips, core, legs, and upper body
• Functional drills for stairs, getting out of chairs, getting off the floor, and walking

You won’t be thrown into a boot camp. We start where you are and progress as your body allows.

Technology-assisted recovery (when appropriate)

For specific fall-related injuries, we may use tools like:

• Shockwave therapy
  
  • For stubborn tendon or soft-tissue pain (e.g., hip, shoulder, or Achilles tendon issues after the fall)
  • To help desensitize and remodel thick, irritated tissue
• EMTT (Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy)
  
  • To support recovery and calm irritated tissues around sore joints and muscles
• Red & near-infrared light therapy
  
  • To support tissue healing and reduce post-session soreness

These are add-ons, not replacements, for good rehab. We’ll explain when and why we recommend them.

Fall prevention: not just getting over this fall, but avoiding the next one

Once the immediate pain is under control, we shift gears from “fixing what happened” to reducing the chance it happens again.

Balance & stability training

We test and train:

• Static balance – standing still on different surfaces and positions
• Dynamic balance – stepping, turning, reaching, and reacting
• Gait (walking) mechanics – stride length, foot placement, and confidence

Our goal is to make you feel steady and secure, not like you’re always one step away from another fall.

Strengthening the right areas

A lot of falls can be traced back to:

• Weak hips and glutes
• Weak ankles and feet
• Decreased core stability

We design strengthening that translates directly into safer movement: stepping off curbs, walking on uneven ground, climbing stairs, turning quickly, and getting in/out of cars or chairs.

Vestibular & dizziness-related issues

If your falls are linked to:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Feeling “off balance” without apparent weakness

We can screen for vestibular (inner ear) causes and build a plan—or refer appropriately—so you’re not constantly battling the feeling of the room spinning or feeling unsteady.

Home & daily-life strategies

We’ll also talk about:

• Footwear choices
• Safe use of assistive devices (canes, walkers, etc.) when appropriate
• Simple home safety changes (rugs, lighting, stairs, bathroom setup)
• How to get up safely if you do fall again

The goal isn’t to scare you—it’s to give you tools so you feel prepared instead of helpless.

Who is fall prevention for?

Short answer: anyone who’s worried about falling, including:

• Older adults who feel a little less steady than they used to
• People who’ve already had one or more falls and don’t want a repeat
• Those with weakness after surgery, illness, or long periods of inactivity
• People dealing with neuropathy, dizziness, or visual changes
• Active adults who’ve had a “wake-up call” fall and want to turn it into a course correction, not a pattern

You don’t have to wait until you’re using a cane or have a fracture to work on fall prevention.

FAQs

Do I need to see a doctor before I see you after a fall?
 If you suspect a fracture, head injury, severe pain, or can’t put weight through a limb, get urgent medical care first. If you’re not sure, call your doctor or an urgent care center. Once serious issues are ruled out or treated, we’re a significant next step. In many cases, you can also come directly to us, and we’ll let you know if further medical workup is needed.

Can you really help prevent falls, or is it just “part of aging”?
 Falls are common, but they are not just an automatic part of getting older. Strength, balance, and your movement can all be improved. We can’t promise no one will ever fall—but we can absolutely help lower the risk and improve your confidence.

What if my fall was months ago?
 It’s still worth addressing. Lingering pain, stiffness, fear, and balance changes can be treated long after the fall itself. We’ll start from where you are now.

Ready to recover—and feel steady again?

If you’ve had a fall, are dealing with pain afterward, or you’re starting to feel nervous about your balance, you don’t have to wait for things to “get bad” before you act.

Schedule a falls & balance evaluation at Timpanogos Physical Therapy, and we’ll:

• Figure out what was injured and how to treat it
• Build a clear plan to restore strength, motion, and confidence
• Work on balance and fall prevention so you’re safer moving forward

So one bad step doesn’t keep running your life.