Dr. Katharine Forth, PhD in Human Motor Control and former NASA researcher, joins host Carol Chiang for a deep dive into one of rehab’s most pressing challenges: fall prevention. With her out-of-this-world perspective on balance science, Katey and Carol explore how shifting from subjective observation to objective measurement can transform client outcomes. Together, they unpack why data-driven insights may be the key to motivating clients, tracking progress, and reducing fear. You’ll walk away with practical strategies—and maybe a new way to think about balance entirely.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the evidence around fall risk assessment to inform care plans that optimize outcomes
• Determine the clinical situations in which measuring balance and fall risk provides the greatest benefit
• Solve patient case scenarios involving emerging fall risk, hidden deficits, and fluctuating balance

Timestamps

• (00:00:00) Welcome
• (00:00:05) Understanding the impact of falls on older adults
• (00:01:48) Introducing Dr. Katharine Forth
• (00:02:56) The multifactorial nature of falls
• (00:04:56) The role of psychology in fall risk
• (00:07:55) The importance of context in fall risk
• (00:11:25) Assessing balance: a complex equation
• (00:15:24) Personalization in fall prevention strategies
• (00:18:48) Measuring balance: technology vs. traditional methods
• (00:25:46) Curiosity and patient engagement in fall prevention
• (00:27:07) Empowering patients through self-measurement
• (00:30:40) The role of competition in therapy
• (00:37:25) Understanding the six pillars of balance
• (00:41:29) The importance of measurement in therapy
• (00:48:58) Key takeaways for clinicians

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