Physical Therapy students help teach seniors to overcome fear of falling

Within the same month, Winnie Raspberry lost her husband and was in a serious car accident. Now living alone, she was fearful of falling and not certain how to handle it.

Then she learned about A Matter of Balance, an eight-week workshop in which Physical Therapy students from UNT Health Science Center teach seniors how to reduce falls, how to manage them when they occur and how to improve strength and balance.

“The students gave us good instructions on learning different exercises and stretches and taught us how to properly get up after a fall,” said Raspberry, who fell shortly after she completed the class but used tips she had learned. “I am grateful to them for helping us.”

A Matter of Balance, a collaborative pilot program with Senior Citizen Services of Tarrant County (SCSTC), included 27 UNTHSC PT students, who were trained and certified to become coaches.

“This was such a rewarding experience being able to see these seniors who were once fearful of falling, now becoming empowered because they were given various exercises to help strengthen muscles and tips to avoid falls,” first-year student Becca Peters said.

Lindsay Lindeman, Matter of Balance facilitator for SCSTC, praised the students’ dedication.

“The students took ownership of the class, and we appreciate them helping empower the participants,” she said.

Nicoleta Bugnariu, PT, PhD, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Chair of the Falls Prevention Task Force with Safe Communities of Fort Worth, said UNTHSC is looking forward to expanding its collaboration with SCSTC.

“These service-learning activities, in which students learn while providing a service to the community are fulfilling the UNTHSC mission of creating solutions for a healthier community,” she said.

Recent News

014 046 150dpi
  • Community
|Feb 11, 2025

Running through history: the story of the Cowtown Marathon

In February 1979, runners lined up at the start of the first Cowtown Marathon. What began as a simple idea to inspire people to live more actively has since evolved into a beloved Fort Worth tradition. Promoting an active lifestyle The marathon’s organizers promoted an active lifestyle — an ...
Kirk A. Calhoun Bio
  • Community
|Feb 5, 2025

Dr. Kirk Calhoun brings expertise and vision to UNTHSC

Kirk Calhoun, M.D., FACP, brings more than 30 years of experience in academic medicine and health care leadership to his new role as interim president of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, a position he assumed on Feb. 1. Calhoun most recently served as president o...
Prayerbear Party With Robin
  • Community
|Feb 5, 2025

TCOM student takes volunteering to a new level at Cook Children’s Medical Center

When you see Kathryn Adkins scroll through her journal of 110 pages of meaningful and memorable experiences, you know why she’s been a volunteer at Cook Children’s Medical Center since 2017. When you hear her speak about being a volunteer, you hear the passion that surrounds her more than 1,100 ...
Con Holin Macklin Solo Shot Dsc 4085 (1)
  • Our People
|Feb 3, 2025

Carved out of curiosity and motivation, Hollin Macklin’s path through nursing never ends

Hollin Macklin’s nursing journey began earlier than most. When Take Your Child to Work Day came around, she would accompany her mother to the hospital where she worked as a nurse, leaving her with a lasting impression. “Watching her provide care and compassion to her patients while balancing ...