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BEYOND THE STRETCH

THE SAFE ACT: STOPPING FALLS RIGHT & LEFT

In an era where headlines often highlight political division, it’s important to remember that some issues transcend party lines. The health, safety, and independence of our aging population is one of them.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults, with 1 in 4 Americans aged 65+ experiencing a fall each year (CDC). These incidents don’t discriminate between red states or blue states. They affect grandparents, parents, neighbors, and friends in every community across the nation.

That’s why the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act has emerged as a truly bipartisan opportunity. It strengthens access to fall prevention services through physical therapy helping older adults stay mobile, independent, and out of the hospital.

Why This Matters to All of Us

Falls affect every family. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, or Independent, aging and fall risks touch the people you love.

Prevention saves money and lives Falls cost the healthcare system billions each year, placing heavy burdens on Medicare, Medicaid, and families

Physical therapy works. Evidence shows that strength, balance, and mobility programs led by physical therapists can reduce fall risk by as much as 40% (Sherrington et al., 2019).

A Moment for Unity

At a time when it feels like common ground is hard to find, the SAFE Act reminds us that protecting older Americans is not a partisan issue — it’s a human one Every policymaker, regardless of party, has constituents who will benefit from improved access to fall prevention services

Supporting this legislation means fewer injuries, healthier aging, reduced costs, and stronger communities. It’s a rare chance to bridge the divide and unite around an issue that impacts us all.

How You Can Help

Contact your representatives and urge them to support the SAFE Act Share your stories, your patients’ successes, and the importance of physical therapy in keeping people safe and independent. Together, we can make falls prevention a national priority — because when it comes to aging, there’s no left or right side of the aisle.

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CLINICAL PEARL REAL PATIENT STORY: FALL PREVENTION FOR BOB

Fall Prevention: What’s the BEST Exercise?

It’s 6:45 AM on a Monday morning. I’m reviewing my caseload for the day when I see that my first patient is Robert, “Bob” as he’s told me to call him an 89-year-old retired electrical engineer from Boston. He’s newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and has fallen twice in the last month.

During his evaluation, Bob made it clear: he didn’t plan to attend the recommended six weeks of physical therapy “I’ll just take your ideas and work on them at home,” he said So now I ask myself:

How do I help Bob? What single exercise could meaningfully reduce his risk of falling?

ISquats? Step-ups? Burpees (a personal favorite of mine, though probably not his)? I love sled pushes safe, powerful, and surprisingly motivating but Bob can’t do those alone at home So, what then?

As a physical therapist, my goal is to prevent the next fall, and that means building strength, balance, proprioception, and power. I also know this: If Bob falls and breaks his hip, there is a >50% chance that he will not return to living at home independently.

He’s given me 2 to 4 visits maybe That means the best exercise must be something safe, effective, and doable independently.

Sit-to-stand movements? That has promise. Add light dumbbells and turn it into a “thruster,” and we begin layering in power. Step-ups? Great for balance and strength, and they transfer directly to real-world needs like stepping up onto a curb. Burpees? Working on the ability to get up/down from the ground is fantastic. Banded marches? Those can help prevent foot drop and reduce tripping hazards.

But even the most clinically sound program means little if the patient won’t do it. When I asked Bob more about his preferences, I learned he’s a Korean War veteran. Turns out, he did thousands of burpees during basic training and he’s vowed never to do one again. Message received.

So now the question shifts. Not just: What’s the BEST exercise?

But rather: What will Bob actually do? What will keep him safe? What fits into his world?

These are the real questions physical therapists face every day. We blend exercise science, anatomy, neurophysiology, and human psychology. We meet people where they are, and we build from there.

And in Bob’s case, every rep could mean the difference between independence and institutional care, between another fall and another walk around the block

Why the SAFE Act Matters

Stories like Bob’s highlight why access to physical therapy is essential, not optional With only a few sessions, we work to keep patients safe, strong, and out of the hospital But repeated Medicare payment cuts make it harder for patients like Bob to access the care they need—and harder for providers to offer it.

That’s why we ’ re urging lawmakers to support the Stopping Addiction and Falls for the Elderly (SAFE) Act — to stabilize our practices, protect patient access, and prevent the very outcomes we work tirelessly to avoid.

Because for every Bob, every thoughtful question, and every early-morning session we’re not just prescribing exercises We’re preserving lives

THAN PASTER T, DPT

Director

ertified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy

esidency Coordinator

Strength and Conditioning Specialist

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