Feeling Unsteady? How Balance Training Can Help Prevent Falls

The toe of your shoe catches the lip of the porch step. Your hand finds the railing, and a moment later you're standing in the driveway deciding whether to mention it to anyone.

If you've started reaching for furniture as you walk or worrying about a curb you used to take without thinking, tell your healthcare provider. Balance training can help older adults at increased risk of falling, and an evaluation can help determine what kind of care fits your needs. You don't have to wait for an injury to bring up a change in how steady you feel.

Can balance training help prevent falls?

Exercise can reduce falls among adults age 65 and older who live at home and have an increased risk of falling. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends exercise programs (opens in a new tab) for this group. If you have fallen before, or walking has become harder, a clinician may consider you at increased risk. The programs studied commonly combined walking practice, balance work, everyday movements, and strengthening.

Falls are common, but there are factors you and your care team can address. The CDC reports that more than one in four adults 65 and older falls each year (opens in a new tab). Muscle weakness, vision problems, certain medicines, and hazards around the home can all contribute. Your provider can help identify which factors apply to you.

What does balance training look like at Omni?

At Omni, balance training runs through the ProPerformance program, and it starts with a measurement rather than a list of exercises. Your first visit is a computerized balance evaluation on the ProBalance 360. The test takes about five minutes and is painless. It produces a Stability Function Index, a single score of your balance and coordination that shows where you stand today.

Your provider reviews that score with you before any training begins. It becomes the baseline for your plan and the number your progress is measured against. Repeating the evaluation later shows whether the work is paying off, which is a more useful conversation than guessing at how steady you feel compared with last year.

Training then combines two things. The first is balance training on the ProBalance platform, guided by your provider and built from your own numbers. The second is Mechanical Motion Therapy, an instrument-assisted treatment that delivers comfortable, high-speed percussive therapy to soft tissue while you move through guided movements. The goal is to retrain the muscles and pathways your body relies on for balance and coordination.

Bring a specific goal to your first visit. Perhaps you want to carry groceries from the car, walk across an uneven lawn, or use the front steps with more confidence. Tell your provider when you feel unsteady and whether pain, dizziness, or tiredness comes with it, so the team can shape the plan around what you want to get back to.

The exercise research described above supports structured training programs. It does not show that an assessment device by itself prevents falls. The evaluation is the starting point and the way to track change. The training is where the work happens.

What else should you discuss with your provider?

Tell your provider about falls and near falls, even if you were not hurt. Bring a medication list and mention any changes in vision, foot pain, or dizziness. These details help your provider decide what to assess.

The CDC's fall-prevention resources for patients and caregivers (opens in a new tab) include a home-safety checklist and information about medicines and falls. Checking loose rugs, lighting, and clear walking paths is a useful part of the conversation. Ask a family member to help look around your home if that would make the task easier. Discuss medicines with your prescriber before making any changes.

When does a balance change need urgent care?

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance can be a stroke warning sign (opens in a new tab). Call 911 for these sudden symptoms or other stroke signs, including trouble speaking, sudden weakness or numbness, or sudden vision changes. Do not wait for a balance-training appointment.

If an older adult falls and hits their head, the CDC advises seeing a doctor right away (opens in a new tab), especially if they take a blood thinner. For a gradual change in steadiness or repeated near falls, contact your healthcare provider to discuss an evaluation.

How can Omni help you work on your balance?

A ProPerformance balance evaluation is offered at all five Omni offices and does not require a referral. Your primary care provider may also need to review medicines, vision, or other medical concerns. Depending on what is found, physical therapy may be part of your care. Omni offers physical therapy at its Wallingford office with a physician's referral.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week (opens in a new tab) runs September 21 through 25 this year (2026), and it is a good reason to stop putting the conversation off. Call Omni at (203) 562-8600 or request an appointment to ask about a balance evaluation. Mention any falls, near falls, or changes you've noticed so the team can help you arrange the appropriate visit.