Falls Prevention

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance

Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is an evidence-based fall prevention program that was designed to be used in community-based organizations. Accumulating evidence suggests that Tai Chi eight-form exercises are an effective means of improving balance, functional limitations, and muscle strength, which reduce the risk of falling.  

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention is an evidence-based program shown to improve balance, mobility, strength, flexibility, and relaxation, and decrease pain and falls.

Target Audience

Adults with or without arthritis, rheumatic diseases, or related musculoskeletal conditions. The program is appropriate for people with mild, moderate, and severe joint and back pain. It is also appropriate for adults who have a higher risk of falling.

Length

There are two options:

• 8 weeks, two 1-hour session per week
• 16 weeks, one 1-hour session per week

A Matter of Balance (MOB)

MOB is an evidence-based structured group intervention program, designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among community-dwelling older adults.  

SAIL is an evidence-based fall prevention program focusing on strength, balance, and fitness.

Target Audience

The primary focus of SAIL is community-dwelling adults 65 years and older and adults that have a history of falls. The SAIL program can accommodate individuals with a mild level of mobility difficulty.

Length

SAIL classes are offered 2 to 3 times a week as a one-hour class, and the exercises can be done standing or sitting. 

A community-based physical activity and self-management education program.

Participants enroll in a 6-week class which can be an in-person group, self-directed or self-directed enhanced (combination of online and in-person) may help:

• Reduce pain/discomfort of arthritis.
• Increase balance, strength and walking pace.
• Build confidence in ability to be physically active.
• Improve overall health.

For more information, visit Walk With Ease.

• Falls Free Check Up: See if You're at Risk
• Oklahoma Human Services Fall Prevention Resources
• Still Going Strong
• STEADI: Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries
• Home Safety Guide: Preventing Falls (English) (Spanish)
• Home Fall Prevention Checklist (English) (Spanish)

The CDC’s Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) initiative provides educational resources to assist health care providers with treating older adults who are at risk of falling, or who may have fallen in the past. STEADI consists of three core elements:

• Screen patients for fall risk
• Assess modifiable factors
• Intervene to reduce fall risk by using effective strategies

For more information on the components of STEADI, including screening options, medications linked to falls, standardized gait and balance assessment tests, and online trainings that offer continuing education, visit CDC - STEADI.

The goal of the Healthy Aging in Oklahoma newsletter is to increase resource sharing across state and local community organizations to reduce morbidity and mortality among older adults in Oklahoma. The newsletter covers a variety of topics including falls prevention, the Oklahoma Healthy Brain Initiative, older adult mental health, and more. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please fill out this form or please contact the Injury Prevention Service.