World Physiotherapy Day Highlights Urgent Need For Fall Prevention In Ageing Population

• Physiotherapy plays key role in reducing cost of hospital care for elderly
• Fall injuries cost NZ $2.5b annually and look set to rise as population ages
• Physiotherapy New Zealand calls for increased investment in physiotherapy to improve mobility of older adults

As New Zealand marks World Physiotherapy Day on 8 September, health leaders are drawing attention to the growing challenge of falls among older adults, and the vital role physiotherapy plays in preventing injury, maintaining mobility, and supporting healthy ageing.

According to ACC, fall-related injury claims cost the country $2.5 billion in the past year alone, with around one in three New Zealanders aged over 65 sustaining a fall-related injury annually. These incidents often result in long-term loss of independence and hospitalisations.

This year’s World Physiotherapy Day theme of healthy ageing, with a focus on preventing falls and frailty, is particularly relevant as New Zealand faces a demographic shift. By 2050, it is projected that 27% of the population will be over the age of 65, up from just 15% in 2016. While life expectancy is increasing, many older adults are not experiencing better health in their later years.

“Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing,” says Physiotherapy New Zealand President Kirsten Davie. “Physiotherapy plays a critical role in helping older New Zealanders stay active, strong, and independent, whether in their homes or in aged residential care.”

Physiotherapists are ideally positioned to assess fall risk, design tailored exercise programs, and help older people manage chronic conditions such as pain, arthritis, and frailty. These interventions improve balance, strength, and mobility, significantly reducing the risk of falls.

For aged residential care residents among the most vulnerable, physiotherapy services become especially important to optimise function and quality of life.

The ageing population also brings increasing demand on New Zealand’s health and disability services. Investing in preventive care like physiotherapy can help manage long-term costs by supporting older adults to live well for longer.

Chronic pain, which affects over one in six New Zealanders, becomes even more prevalent with age, impacting nearly 30% of older adults. Physiotherapy offers evidence-based strategies for pain management, helping reduce dependency on medication and improving daily functioning.

Jessie Snowdon, an aged care physiotherapist and founder of On the Go Physio providing over 100 hours of physiotherapy to aged care facilities each week, shares that “as people age, physiotherapy can be the critical factor that keeps them living independently at home or maintaining their physical independence in an aged care facility.

We can offer the opportunity to maximise function at any stage but unfortunately are often only referred to see a person once they have had already experienced a medical event such as a stroke, or an injury following a fall.

We’re most under-utilised in preventing falls and there’s compelling evidence now that high quality strength and balance exercise programmes, when delivered correctly, can significantly decrease the chance of a person experiencing a fall.”

Australia and New Zealand Falls Prevention Society President Prof. Kim Delbaere adds that “falls are a major health issue in Australia and New Zealand, with a significant impact on older people, their carers and families.

“The evidence consistently points to exercise as the single most effective falls prevention strategy. Physiotherapists are uniquely placed to deliver these programs, reducing both the incidence of falls and their consequences.”

Picture: Jessie Snowdon with Mary Robb, herself a retired aged care physiotherapist, who understands the importance of maintaining her strength and balance and is a keen walker and attendee of her aged care facility’s exercise class.

Note:

Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ) is the national membership organisation for physiotherapists and physiotherapy students, providing over 4,000 members with advocacy, education, information and services. An active membership organisation since 1950, we're founding members of World Physiotherapy.

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