Episode 15 - A New Perspective on Fall Prevention with Ron Blehm

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Ron Blehm, PT, CEEAA, CSFI, CFPS, a leading expert in fall prevention. Ron has dedicated his 30-year career to helping patients achieve optimal function. He is currently a Primary Care PT and he's here to share his eye-opening insights on a critical issue often overlooked in physical therapy.

In this episode, Ron delves into his extensive research on fall prevention, revealing simple yet powerful screening tools and treatment protocols that every PT can implement, regardless of their specialization. He emphasizes the urgency of addressing fall risk as our population ages, empowering therapists to make a real difference in the lives of their patients.

Key takeaways:

• The surprising impact of fall risk on future general health outcomes
• Easy-to-use screening tools that can be integrated into any PT practice.
• Effective treatment strategies to mitigate fall risk and improve patient outcomes.
• Why gait speed is a vital sign and how to use it to assess fall risk.
• His incredible past research efforts on this topic

Don't miss this opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on fall prevention and elevate your practice to new heights!

Additional Info:

Because the population is aging, it is imperative that all Physical Therapists (regardless of their area of expertise) be aware of these screening tools to identify those who are at most risk.

References:

• Guccione in Geriatric Physical Therapy, 2013
• Elrod in Elsevier, Oct. 2020
• APTA Geriatric Section Guidelines 2020
• Horak, 2006 PMID: 16926210
• Horak, 2009 PMID: 19329772
• King, 2015 PMID: 26308937
• King, 2014 PMID: 25102383
• Izquidero, 2021 PMID: 36098146
• Wei, 2024 PMID: 39074909
• Bartosch, 2021 PMID: 33661308
• Lee, 2015 PMID: 25767167
• Kojima, 2018 PMID: 29040347
• Wilson, 2004 PMID: 15381535
• Parry, 2016 PMID: 27676247
• Lucas, 2014 PMID: 24481484
• Gordon, 2020 PMID: 32143634
• Clemson, 2004 PMID: 15341550
• Goldman, 2016 PMID: 27434271
• Stevens and Lee, Sep. 2018 PMID: 30122212

Gait Speed was recommended as a Vital Sign (every visit) in the Guide to PT Practice, 2001