Fall Prevention at a Local Fitness Center

Abstract

Abstract Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in adults over the age of 65 with 1 in 4 experiencing a fall in their lifetime (Stark et al., 2018). With a growing number of community-dwelling older adult clientele returning to the gym following the Covid-19 pandemic, the leadership at a fitness center in Fishers, IN found a gap in their services. A collaboration began between an Indiana University Doctor of Occupational Therapy capstone student and this a fitness center in Fishers, IN club to develop and implement an evidence-based fall prevention program through an occupational therapy lens to meet the needs of the older adult clients at a fitness center in Fishers, IN An eight-week program was administered, and results suggest an increase in group members’ balance-related self-confidence scores utilizing the Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale as a pre and posttest. Program satisfaction was measured through use of a nonstandardized survey and analyzed for sustainability purposes of the program.