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Conditions We Treat  /  Balance & Fall Prevention

Balance

Balance Problems and Fall Prevention in Bakersfield

Feeling unsteady, holding onto furniture, or afraid of falling again? Balance can be trained at any age, and the right exercise program lowers the chance of a fall.

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Yes, physical therapy can improve balance and lower your risk of falling. About one in four adults 65 and older falls each year, according to the CDC, and a fall is not a normal part of aging. Exercise programs that train balance and strength reduce the number of falls in older adults living at home. At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist.

Does this sound like you?

✓You feel unsteady walking, turning or on uneven ground
✓You hold onto walls or furniture to get around the house
✓You have fallen, or nearly fallen, in the past year
✓Getting up from a chair takes your arms or a few tries
✓You have started avoiding walks, stores or stairs because you're afraid of falling
✓A family member has noticed you are slower or less steady

Why balance gets worse

Balance depends on several systems working together: strength in your legs and hips, feeling in your feet, your inner ear, your eyesight and how quickly your body reacts. With age, inactivity, illness or surgery, one or more of these can slip, often slowly enough that you don't notice until you stumble.

Other things add to fall risk too: some medications, dizziness, foot pain, poor lighting and loose rugs. Fear of falling can also lead people to move less, which makes legs weaker and balance worse.

Why training helps

Balance is a skill. Like strength, it improves with practice that is challenging but safe. A program that includes balance, leg strength and walking practice, done regularly over several weeks, is what the research supports. If dizziness is part of the problem, a physical therapist can also check for inner-ear causes like BPPV, which is very treatable. See our vertigo and dizziness guide.

What treatment at ARI looks like

1
A one-on-one evaluation

Your first visit takes about 45 to 60 minutes. We test your strength, balance, walking and how you get up from a chair, and talk through any falls, medications and what you want to be able to do safely.

2
Balance and strength training

Exercises matched to your level and progressed each week: standing balance, stepping and turning, leg and hip strength, and walking practice, always with support nearby.

3
A safer home and routine

How to get up safely if you fall, advice on shoes, lighting and rugs, whether a cane or walker would help, and a home program you can keep doing.

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

When to see a doctor first

Get medical care right away if you have:

  • Sudden dizziness or loss of balance with slurred speech, face drooping, or weakness or numbness on one side: call 911, as this can be a stroke
  • A fall with a hit to the head, especially if you take a blood thinner
  • Fainting or nearly fainting, or a racing or irregular heartbeat
  • A fall after which you can't get up or can't put weight on a leg
  • Balance that is getting worse quickly over days or weeks

Why patients choose ARI

Care at ARI is always one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist at our Bakersfield clinic: 8200 Stockdale Hwy, Suite B2, in the Town & Country Village center next to Trader Joe's. Our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Balance and fall prevention FAQs

Yes. Balance and strength respond to training at any age. Research on older adults living at home shows that regular exercise programs that include balance and strength training reduce falls.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient physical therapy when it is medically necessary, which can include balance problems and fall risk. We accept Medicare; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you understand your coverage.
No, it's the best time to start. If you feel unsteady or have nearly fallen, building balance and strength now can help prevent the first fall.
Exercise for balance and strength several times a week is the single most effective step for most people. It also helps to ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines, especially sleep aids, pain medicines and blood pressure pills; get your eyes checked every year; add night lights, grab bars in the bathroom and railings on both sides of the stairs; remove loose rugs and clutter; and wear supportive shoes with non-slip soles instead of slippers or socks. If you have fallen or feel unsteady, tell your doctor.
Yes. Family members are welcome, and it often helps for someone at home to learn the exercises and safety tips too.
No. In California you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage, so call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Common questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

Request an EvaluationCall (661) 282-8584

Sources

  1. Older Adult Fall Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2. Falls and Fractures in Older Adults: Causes and Prevention. National Institute on Aging (NIH).
  3. Falls. MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed September 2026