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I read an especially moving article...
written by a woman whose 88 year old mother had experienced multiple falls. While injurious in and of themselves, these falls seemed to have caused an even greater damage to the aging mother's confidence. In short, the mother's prospect of walking again was based largely on her ability to overcome her fear of falling again.
It was an informative, and heartwarming, article that is well worth reading.
The very term "fall prevention" naturally causes us to focus on the strengths and capabilities we try to create so that a fall will never occur. However, as this article points out, fall prevention also entails the reality of prior falls, the efforts to prevent further ones by increasing strengths and capabilities with the added challenge of restoring patient confidence.
But, perhaps this is no different from any other injury rehab process. When a patient has a torn ACL, you not only bring them through a very physical therapy, you also guide them through their own mental therapy. A fully recovered patient needs a strong knee - and the confidence to use it just as they did prior to their injury.
Physical therapy is so much more than physical therapy.
In the following video, Kenji Carp PT, OCS, ATC demonstrates some of the protocols he uses in working with those who struggle with vertigo, vestibular, or the very real fear of falling again: