What happens during a fall risk assessment?
Many providers use an approach developed by the CDC called STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries). STEADI includes screening, assessing, and intervention. Interventions are recommendations that may reduce your risk of falling.
During the screening, you may be asked several questions including:
Have you fallen in the past year?
Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking?
Are you worried about falling?
During an assessment, your provider will test your strength, balance, and gait, using the following fall assessment tools:
Timed Up-and-Go (Tug). This test checks your gait. You'll start in a chair, stand up, and then walk for about 10 feet at your regular pace. Then you'll sit down again. Your health care provider will check how long it takes you to do this. If it takes you 12 seconds or more, it may mean you are at higher risk for a fall.
30-Second Chair Stand Test. This test checks strength and balance. You'll sit in a chair with your arms crossed over your chest. When your provider says "go," you'll stand up and sit down again. You'll repeat this for 30 seconds. Your provider will count how many times you can do this. A lower number may mean you are at higher risk for a fall. The specific number that indicates a risk depends on your age.
4-Stage Balance Test. This test checks how well you can keep your balance. You'll stand in four different positions, holding each one for 10 seconds. The positions will get harder as you go.
Position 1: Stand with your feet side-by-side.
Position 2: Move one foot halfway forward, so the instep is touching the big toe of your other foot.
Position 3 Move one foot fully in front of the other, so the toes are touching the heel of your other foot.
Position 4: Stand on one foot.
If you can't hold position 2 or position 3 for 10 seconds or you can't stand on one leg for 5 seconds, it may mean you are at higher risk for a fall.
There are many other fall assessment tools. If your provider recommends other assessments, he or she will let you know what to expect.
