Balance and Falls Pre-Exam Form in Abilene
Most people do not book this appointment after the first stumble. They book it after the one that scared them. These are the questions your therapist will ask at our Abilene clinic, written out so you can think back honestly before you get here, because the details you almost forget are usually the ones that matter.
What your balance and falls pre-exam covers.
Balance is not one system. It is your inner ear, your eyes, the sensation in your feet, the strength in your hips and the speed at which you can catch yourself. A balance exam is really an exercise in working out which of those has quietly stopped pulling its weight.
So the questions get specific. Look them over before your visit and answer what you can, out loud with a family member if that helps. There is nothing to submit on this page. When you are ready to be seen, use the booking form further down.
Falls and near misses
How many times you have gone down in the past year, and what you were doing each time. Then the ones that do not feel like they count: the grab at the counter, the catch on the door frame, the sit down that was really a controlled drop. Near misses tell us as much as falls do, so please include them.
Balance & gait disorders →What you hold on to now
A cane, a walker, a hand on the wall down the hallway, somebody’s elbow in a parking lot. Tell us what you use, when you started using it, and whether you use it everywhere or only outside the house. If you have a device sitting in the garage because it feels like giving in, say that too.
Balance therapy →Where it feels worst
Gravel, wet grass, a sloped driveway, curbs, stairs without a rail, a dark hallway in the small hours, turning around quickly, reaching up into a high cupboard. Tell us which situations you now avoid, and whether the fear of falling has started deciding where you will and will not go.
Request an appointment →Medications, vision and the house
Bring the medication list, because blood pressure tablets, sleep aids and anything that leaves you lightheaded on standing all change the picture. Note recent vision changes, new glasses or eye surgery. Then walk your own home: throw rugs, cords, a step down into the garage, poor lighting, a bathroom with nothing to hold.
Call (785) 263-3646 →What to bring to your first visit
- Your prescription, if a physician has already written you one
- Your driver’s licence or another photo ID
- Your insurance cards, or your Worker’s Comp or auto claim information
- A full list of your medications with the dosage and how often you take them
- Copies of any X-ray, MRI or CT reports related to a fall or an injury
- Your personal calendar, so we can schedule the rest of your visits before you leave
Bring the shoes you actually wear around the house, too. Kansas direct access means most patients can start physical therapy without a physician referral. Some insurance plans still require one for coverage, so we verify your specific plan before your first visit and tell you exactly where you stand.
Your Abilene clinic
You do not have to write any of this down. Call (785) 263-3646 and answer it on the phone, or arrive a few minutes early and go through it with us at the front desk. Nobody is turned away for coming in empty handed. Bring a family member if they saw the falls, because they usually remember what you did not. Use the form below to get on the schedule.