Putting the Fun Back into Functional: Creating Purposeful Gait and Balance Challenges
Restoring balance and upright mobility requires exposure to challenge—and, inevitably, to perceived risk. Yet fear of falling often becomes one of the greatest barriers for both clinicians and patients during mobility progression. How can we introduce the right amount of risk to stimulate balance responses without creating unsafe conditions?
In this session, participants will explore how ambulation slings and safe patient handling technology can be used to thoughtfully “engineer in” challenge while “engineering out” the true risk of falls. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, we will examine how to design engaging, task-oriented gait, balance, and ambulation activities that mirror everyday demands. By blending safety, biomechanics, and a little creativity, clinicians can help individuals push their limits, build confidence, and rediscover the FUN in functional mobility training.
Learning Objectives
Participants will be able to:
- Identify mobility profiles appropriate for progressing static and dynamic balance challenges
- Describe how ambulation slings can be used to promote optimal biomechanics during balance and gait activities
- Adapt everyday, functional tasks into engaging and appropriately challenging balance, gait, and ambulation interventions
Presenter
Andrew Rich MS, OTR/L, CSPHP
Clinical Solutions Manager - Arjo
Andy Rich received his Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy at Rush University. Upon graduation in 1997, he worked in the more traditional roles as an occupational therapist. In 2004, he entered the world of safe patient handling. He served as a member of on the board of directors for the Association of Safe Patient Handling Professionals. Andy uses his passion and creativity to help design safe patient handling products and programs that help both patients and caregivers remain safe while receiving or providing care. Andy speaks at numerous regional and national conferences on topics ranging from making a business case for a safe patient handling programs to how to create and sustain success in safe patient handling in the long term. For 20 years, he has worked as a consultant, clinical manager and solution manager for Arjo’s MOVE and PHD Program. Here he has led teams using behavioral based safety, right-just culture, system theory, improvisational comedy and simple strategies to infuse fun and passion into change initiatives creating results both his mother and clients are uber-proud of.