Balance and falls prevention in Williamstown and the Barossa

Falls are common, and often preventable

Around 1 in 3 Australians over 65 has a fall each year. A fall can knock your confidence as much as your body, and many people start doing less because they are worried about the next one. Doing less makes legs weaker and balance worse, so the risk goes up.

Exercise that challenges your balance and builds leg strength is one of the best-supported ways to lower your risk of falling. It works best when it is specific, progressed over time and done regularly.

We measure your balance, not guess it

Your first visit includes simple, standardised tests of your standing balance, walking and leg strength, such as timed sit-to-stand and balance tests. That tells us where to focus, and gives you numbers to compare against when we retest.

Who it is for

• You have had a fall or a near miss
• You feel unsteady, hold onto furniture or walls, or have slowed down when walking
• You are worried about falling and have started avoiding things because of it
• You are getting back on your feet after a hospital stay or an illness
• A family member has noticed you are less steady than you used to be

How it works

• Initial assessment (60 minutes). We talk through your health history and goals, then test your strength, balance and mobility so we have a starting point to measure against.
• A plan built around you. Every exercise is chosen for your body, your conditions and what you want to get back to.
• Supervised sessions in the clinic. Your exercise physiologist is with you, adjusting as you go, and progresses the program at a pace your body can handle. Your home exercises sit in the Moveify app.
• Retesting. We repeat your tests so you can see what has changed, in numbers, not guesses.

Medicare, private health and funding

You don't need a referral to book. If you have a chronic condition, your GP may be able to refer you under a chronic condition management plan (often called a care plan), which gives you a Medicare rebate for up to 5 allied health visits a year. Your initial assessment can be bulk-billed with a GP care plan. Most private health funds also cover exercise physiology under extras, and we see DVA and NDIS clients too. How Medicare and funding work.

Where we are

Our clinic is at 4 George St, Williamstown SA 5351, in the southern Barossa. It's a short drive from Lyndoch, Mount Pleasant, Springton, Kersbrook, Cockatoo Valley, Sandy Creek and Gawler, and within easy reach of Tanunda, Nuriootpa and the rest of the Barossa and northern Adelaide Hills. Open Monday and Tuesday, 8:00am to 5:30pm.

Common questions

More from Moveify

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• Chronic conditions, Medicare and funding