Current Pedorthics | January-February 2016 | Vol.48, Issue 1 | Page 20

Balance Alternatives Geriatric patients are a group that through many years of life experience have gained wisdom. They should be presented with alternatives, without overwhelming them. Consider falls, and fall prevention. In 2013 there were 2.5 million non-fatal falls in the U.S., at a cost of $34 billion. Falls happen for a multitude of reasons: uneven pavement, loose rugs and other impediments, and of course, loss of proprioception and balance, especially in the geriatric population. Here again we are provided with a host of options; some are easy and some, difficul