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Falls Prevention & Balance Treatment in Waterlooville

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Reduce Your Risk of Falling and Rebuild Your Confidence

Falls are the most common cause of injury-related hospital admission in older adults. The consequences can be significant—ranging from fractures and head injuries to a lasting fear of falling that restricts activity and accelerates physical decline. However, the majority of falls are not “accidents”—they are preventable events.
Falls prevention physiotherapy identifies the specific factors that put you at risk—such as muscle weakness, reduced joint mobility, poor balance, or environmental hazards—and addresses them through targeted clinical intervention. Our goal is to move you beyond “being careful” to a place of genuine physical stability and confidence in your ability to move safely.

Specialist Balance Rehabilitation in Waterlooville

At The Physiotherapy Centre, falls prevention and balance rehabilitation are led by Laura Holdway, a chartered community physiotherapist who specializes in treating older adults and those with reduced mobility.

Laura provides a compassionate, expert approach that bridges the gap between clinical treatment and everyday life. We offer this service both at our Waterlooville clinic and through Home Visits across Widley, Purbrook, Cosham, Havant, and Petersfield. This ensures that even those with significant mobility challenges can access the specialist care they need to stay safe and independent at home.

The Role of the Pelvic Floor and Blood Flow

The pelvic floor muscles (specifically the ischiocavernosus and bulbocavernosus) play a critical role in the mechanics of an erection by supporting the blood vessels and helping to maintain pressure. If these muscles are weak, or conversely, if they are too tense (hypertonic), they can impede function.

Furthermore, “vasculogenic” ED—caused by reduced blood flow—is the most common physical cause. Our treatment protocols are specifically designed to address both the muscle quality and the blood supply within the pelvic region to restore natural function.

Falls Prevention

Understanding Falls Risk

Why Do People Fall?

Falls are rarely caused by a single factor. They typically result from a combination of intrinsic factors (related to your body), including muscle weakness (particularly in the legs and hips), reduced balance and coordination, reduced sensation in the feet, visual impairment, dizziness or postural hypotension (a drop in blood pressure on standing), joint stiffness and pain, neurological conditions (stroke, Parkinson’s, MS), and medication side effects (particularly sedatives, blood pressure medications, and polypharmacy).

Extrinsic factors (related to your environment) also play a significant role, including loose rugs, cluttered walkways, and poor lighting, uneven surfaces, steps, and kerbs, inappropriate footwear, and lack of handrails or grab rails.
In most cases, a combination of reduced physical capacity and environmental challenges leads to a fall. Physiotherapy addresses the physical factors directly and provides practical advice on the environmental ones.
The Falls Cycle

After a fall — or even a near-miss — many people develop a fear of falling. This leads to reduced activity, which causes further weakness and deconditioning, which increases the risk of another fall. This cycle is common and deeply damaging. Breaking it requires a structured, confidence-building approach that gradually restores your physical capacity and your trust in your own balance.

Who Should Seek Falls Prevention Treatment?
Falls prevention physiotherapy is appropriate if you have had a fall or near-miss in the past twelve months, you feel unsteady on your feet or hold onto furniture when moving around, you have reduced your activities because of a fear of falling, you have noticed your balance deteriorating, you have a condition that affects balance (such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, or peripheral neuropathy), or you have been discharged from hospital and feel deconditioned.
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How We Treat: Our Approach

Here is the assessment and treatment text for Falls Prevention and Balance, adapted into our established clinical flow: 

Your recovery starts with a thorough, clinical screening that looks far beyond just “walking.” Laura conducts a series of standardized balance tests—such as the Berg Balance Scale and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test—to quantify your current stability. We examine the specific drivers of your risk, including:
  • Lower Limb Strength: Measuring the power in your quadriceps, hips, and ankles.
  • Gait Analysis: Observing walking speed, stride length, and how you manage turns.
  • Sensory Screening: Checking foot sensation, vision, and proprioception.
  • Safety Review: For home visit patients, this includes a review of postural blood pressure and a trip hazard audit of your living environment.
Once your specific deficits are identified, Laura prescribes a programme designed to build a “buffer” against falls. We don’t just provide general movements; we target the specific muscles that keep you upright.
  • Strength Training: Focusing on the power muscles, the quadriceps, hip abductors (glutes), and calves, which are essential for catching yourself if you stumble.
  • Progressive Balance Drills: Moving from supported standing to dynamic tasks like tandem walking or step ups, always in a safe and controlled manner.
  • Functional Rehearsal: Practising the exact movements that cause you anxiety, such as rising from a low chair, navigating stairs, or bending down to reach a cupboard.
For those seen via Home Visits, Laura provides a professional “fresh set of eyes” on your living space. We provide practical, non-intrusive advice on modifications that can drastically reduce your risk, such as:
  • Strategic lighting improvements for hallways and stairs.
  • Advice on securing loose rugs or clearing high-traffic pathways.
  • Recommendations for grab rails or footwear that provides better sensory feedback and grip.
Independence is the ultimate goal. As your strength and confidence return, Laura will progress your programme to ensure you continue to improve. When you are ready, she can support your transition into community-based exercise groups or move you to a self-management plan with periodic “check-in” reviews to ensure your stability remains at its peak.
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What to Expect at Your First Appointment

At The Physiotherapy Centre, we believe that maintaining your independence starts with a clear understanding of your physical capabilities. Your initial 60-minute consultation with Laura is designed to be supportive, thorough, and entirely focused on your safety.

Practicalities for your visit:

  • Flexible Location: Your appointment can take place in our Waterlooville clinic or as a home visit in the comfort of your own environment.
  • What to wear: Please wear comfortable, everyday clothing and the supportive footwear you usually wear at home or when out walking.
  • Equipment & Medication: If you use a walking aid (stick, frame, or rollator), please have it ready. It is also very helpful to have a list of your current medications available for Laura to review, as some can impact balance.
  • Your Pace: The assessment is comprehensive but conducted entirely at your pace. You will leave with a clear explanation of your balance profile and a tailored set of exercises to begin immediately.
We believe in realistic expectations. Improving balance is about retraining the nervous system and rebuilding muscle mass—processes that require consistency and time.
Laura will set honest goals with you from the outset. While you may feel more confident after just a few sessions of “technique” practice, a minimum of eight to twelve weeks of regular exercise is typically required to see a measurable increase in leg strength and a significant reduction in fall risk. We are here to support you through that journey, providing the professional guidance needed to keep you moving safely and independently for the long term.

Pricing and Appointments

At the Clinic
  • Initial Assessment : £79 (45 minutes) or £89 (60 minutes)

  • Follow-Up Session £72 (30 minutes)

Home Visits
  • Initial Visit £99 (60 minutes)

  • Follow-Up Session £104 (30 minutes) or £130 (45 minutes)

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Conveniently Located in Waterlooville

  • The Physiotherapy Centre 96 London Road, Widley, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO7 5AB
  • Opening Hours: Mon: 8.00–7.00 | Tue: 8.00–7.30 | Wed: 8.00–8.00 | Thu: 8.00–7.00 | Fri: 8.00–5.00 | Sat: 8.30–1.00
  • We serve patients from Widley, Purbrook, Waterlooville, Cosham, Havant, Petersfield, and Portsmouth. The clinic is on the old A3 / London Road, just north of Portsdown Hill, near the Hampshire Rose pub. The No. 8 bus (Bushy Mead) stops just up the road.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to lose balance as you get older?

Some decline in balance is common with age, but significant instability and falls are not inevitable. The main causes of poor balance in older adults — muscle weakness, reduced sensation, and deconditioning — are all modifiable with the right exercise programme. Physiotherapy can make a meaningful difference at any age.
Yes. Strong evidence supports the use of targeted balance and strength exercises for falls prevention. Research consistently shows that supervised exercise programmes reduce the rate of falls by 23–40% in older adults. The exercises need to be specific, progressive, and sustained — which is why a physiotherapist-led programme is more effective than generic advice.
Yes. Fear of falling is very common after a fall and can be just as disabling as a physical injury. The exercise programme is designed to rebuild your confidence gradually — starting with safe, supported exercises and progressing as your strength and balance improve. Many patients find that as their physical ability increases, their fear naturally reduces.
Yes. A fall is a clear signal that something needs to be addressed — whether that is muscle weakness, balance problems, medication effects, or environmental hazards. Early assessment and treatment can significantly reduce the risk of another fall and help your parent maintain their independence. Home visits are available if travelling to the clinic is difficult.
This depends on your baseline fitness and fall risk. Most patients benefit from six to twelve sessions, with an emphasis on building a home exercise programme that you can maintain independently. Periodic reviews may be recommended to check progress and update your programme.
Yes — and this is ideal. Prevention is most effective when it starts before a fall occurs. If you have noticed your balance deteriorating or feel less confident on your feet, early intervention can prevent a fall from happening in the first place.
Falls prevention physiotherapy is most commonly provided for older adults, but poor balance can affect people of any age — particularly after neurological conditions, surgery, or prolonged illness. If balance is affecting your daily life, treatment is appropriate regardless of your age.
Yes. Many common medications can affect balance, including blood pressure medications (which can cause dizziness on standing), sedatives and sleeping tablets, certain antidepressants, and the combined effects of taking multiple medications (polypharmacy). Laura will review your medication as part of the assessment and can liaise with your GP if medication changes may be beneficial.
Yes. Home visits are available across Waterlooville, Portsmouth, Fareham, and surrounding areas. Home-based assessment has the advantage of evaluating your balance in the environment where you actually need it — and allows Laura to identify home-based fall hazards.
No. You or a family member can contact the clinic directly to arrange an assessment. No GP referral is needed.
Team

Meet the Team Supporting Your Recovery

Laura Holdway
Community Physiotherapist