Physical Therapy -> Balance

Balance

The ability to stay upright when sitting or standing without falling over. Balance is looked at statically (sitting or standing still) and dynamically (sitting or standing while moving or being moved) and eyes open vs eyes closed. There are three main things our body uses to maintain balance: proprioception (knowing where your feet are), vision (seeing where you are), and vestibular (the rocks and fluid in your ear).

Reference links

  • Scope of Practice Q&A: Gait Assessment For Falls Risk 4
    www.aota.org
    Author: American Occupational Therapy Association - Is gait assessment/training and the use of these tools within the occupational therapy scope of practice?
  • Joint Guidelines For Therapy Co-Treatment Under Medicare 1
    www.aota.org
    Author: The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) - Co-treatment may be appropriate when practitioners from different professional disciplines can effectively address their treatment goals while the patient is engaged in a single therapy session. For example, a patient may address cognitive goals for sequencing as part of a speech-language pathology (SLP) treatment session while the physical therapist (PT) is training the patient to use a wheelchair. Or a patient may address ADL goals for increasing independence as part of an occupational therapy (OT) treatment session while the PT addresses balance retraining with the patient to increase independence with mobility. Co-treatment is appropriate when coordination between the two disciplines will benefit the patient, not simply for scheduling convenience. Documentation should clearly indicate the rationale for co-treatment and state the goals that will be addressed through this method of intervention. Co-treatment sessions should be documented as such by each practitioner, stating which goals were addressed and the progress made. Co-treatment should be limited to two disciplines providing interventions during one treatment session.
  • Physical Therapy Guide to Gait Dysfunctions 0
    www.choosept.com
    Author: ChoosePT - Gait dysfunctions are changes in your normal walking pattern, often related to a disease or abnormality in different areas of the body. Physical therapists are

Activity List(s)

Visual Schedule Cards

Assessments

Goal Bank

  • Aundrea will demonstrate increased lower/upper extremity and trunk strength through independent functional play activities in various positions, including standing, kneeling, prone, and squatting, without loss of balance 3/4 trials for 8-10 minutes over 8 therapy sessions. 2
  • Tynisha will demonstrate independent standing within 8-10 minutes for 4/5 trials while holding toys in hands with no loss of balance over 8 therapy sessions to demonstrate strength and balance. 2

Therapists

Therapists who selected this major focus area as their top area of expertise.

  • Dana Parker

    Dana Parker

    PTA

    Dana is a Physical Therapist Assistant with a Master of Health Administration, Six Sigma Green Be...