Targeted Exercise Prescription to Improve Balance and Prevent Falls

Physiotherapists play a vital role in fall prevention by promoting and prescribing exercise and physical activity that effectively challenge balance across the lifespan. While it is well established that falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and that balance exercises must be sufficiently challenging to improve outcomes, translating this into practice can be complex. With numerous variables to consider—exercise type, intensity, dosage, and individual needs—determining the most effective approach can feel daunting. 

In this lecture, Dr. Melanie Farlie—fresh from presenting at the Canadian Falls Prevention Conference and in recognition of April Falls Month—will explore practical strategies for navigating the complexities of balance exercise prescription. Attendees will gain insights into how measuring balance exercise intensity can support clinicians in designing targeted interventions that optimise training and enhance fall prevention outcomes. 

Presenter

Dr. Melanie Farlie is an APA Titled Research Physiotherapist and clinician-researcher with over 24 years of combined experience in clinical practice and research. She is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Physiotherapy and a Research Fellow in the Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education (MCSHE) at Monash University.

Dr. Farlie’s PhD focused on balance exercise prescription, leading to the development and validation of the Balance Intensity Scale—the world’s first objective measure of balance exercise intensity. She now leads the Balance Exercise Research Group at Monash University, advancing research into balance training and its clinical applications.

In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Farlie serves as the Education Officer on the Board of the International Association of Physiotherapists working with Older People (IPTOP) and as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Physical Therapy Education (JoPTE). 

Host

Gerontology National Group

Date of Live Event

16/04/2025

CPD Hours

1.5 hours

Please note: The content of this Lecture on Demand (LOD) was captured via a recording of a live lecture at the APA premises. Due to the nature of the event and the recording method, this LOD may not have captured some of the questions/comments from live audience. Your purchase of this module indicates your acceptance of this.