Resources on Balance
Here you find useful websites, videos etc. all related dizziness.hudshfuhdufhudshfdhfhdfkhfhfhdfhfhkfhkdfhkhfkdhfkhdkfhdkfhdkfhkdhfkdhfkhfkdhfkdhkdhfkdhfdkhfkdfhkfhkfhksdfhkfh find on prevention of falls. so when balance doesn't go well.
Local & National Resources
BFU / Bureau de prévention des accidents (BPA)
Serving as Switzerland's official authority on safety, the BPA is legally mandated to lead accident prevention nationwide. Their scientific research and technical standards provide the essential evidence base for all national fall prevention initiatives.
While the BFU provides the research, Pro Senectute brings the help directly to you. As the largest organization for seniors in Switzerland, they use their local offices in every canton to host the physical classes and provide personalised advice to help you stay independent and active in your own community.
This is the national campaign co-founded by the BFU and Pro Senectute. It serves as your practical toolbox. Through its website, it offers specialized exercise videos, self-tests to check your stability, and a searchable database of approved balance classes across the country.
This campaign is also in German, but it's called sichergehen.ch.
Ligue suisse contre le rhumatisme
Ligue suisse contre le rhumatisme offer a specialised "Fall Prevention" program that includes home visits by physiotherapists or occupational therapists to secure your living environment and provide personalised exercise plans.
International Resources
National Council on Aging (NCOA) - Falls Prevention
A fantastic resource for evidence-based programs. They offer a "Falls Free CheckUp" (an online screening tool) and a wealth of articles on how vision, hearing, and chronic conditions contribute to fall risk.
The World Health Organisation focuses on fall prevention through its Step Safely initiative, which provides a comprehensive technical package of evidence-based strategies.
Their approach is unique because it addresses safety across the entire life course rather than focusing solely on the elderly. They categorise interventions for children to prevent developmental accidents, for workers to reduce occupational hazards, and for older adults to maintain independence.
By acting as a global coordinator, they help governments integrate these safety standards into national health policies and urban design to reduce injuries worldwide.
The Chair Dilemma
From Support to Stability
Many websites suggest holding onto a chair or table while performing balance exercises. While this is a safe starting point and may be sufficient for those who do not need to walk without a device, my clinical approach focuses on functional independence, which often means walking without any aids at all.
In the real world, there is not always a sturdy surface within reach when you trip or lose your footing. To truly regain the confidence to walk without a cane or walking stick, we must train your brain to rely on its own internal sensors: your vision, your inner ear or vestibular system, and your body sense of position known as proprioception.
I believe that constantly holding onto an object during training prevents true functional progress. If there is no instability, you are not training the reactive balance required to prevent a fall in an unexpected moment. My goal is to shift your mindset from being safe because you are holding on to something to being safe because your body is stable and responsive.
By stepping away from the chair, we are not just practicing exercises; we are practicing for your life outdoors, in the supermarket, and in your community.
