Physiotherapy plays a vital role in managing injuries from slips, trips or falls, especially soft tissue damage which accounts for a third of such cases. By assessing risk factors, performing strength and balance testing, and prescribing tailored rehab plans, physiotherapists help reduce pain, restore movement and prevent re-injury. Effective modalities such as manual therapy, EMS, and low level laser therapy are often combined with fall prevention strategies, particularly for individuals aged 65+, where recurrence risk is highest.
According to the National Institutes of Health around 31% of falls result in mostly soft tissue injuries requiring clinical treatment. (1) These injuries will have a sudden onset of symptoms, usually being pain, loss of range of motion, swelling, bruising and stiffness.
It is important in the first 48-72 hours after an injury to protect the affected area from any further damage and seek medical attention if there is any suspected bony injury and head or neck trauma. Any soft tissue damage in this time will undergo the first ‘acute’ phase of healing where you may notice increased inflammation and tenderness around the affected area however it is natural and important in the tissue healing process. (2)
When should you seek help from a Physiotherapist after a slip, trip or fall?
Having a therapist assess the injury during the first 48-72 hours after an injury can sometimes be challenging to diagnose through testing as painful symptoms and increased inflammation of the injured area can be a barrier to assessing properly. Once the acute phase has passed this is the best time to seek advice from a physiotherapist or MSK therapist. (3)
A Physiotherapist will undergo a detailed assessment of the individual and injury including testing for any risk factors of a fall occurring and any relevant medical history. Tests include but are not limited to: Balance testing, strength testing, laxity testing and functional testing to find areas of weakness around the affected area. (4) Through an accurate diagnosis based on their assessment, a clinician will be able to give you the best advice to manage your symptoms and recover as quickly as possible.
What advice or treatment is typically used to deal with slip, trip or fall injuries?
Management strategies for injuries sustained after a slip, trip or fall will often involve improving pain free movement through manual therapy techniques or other non-invasive treatment strategies available like Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and Low-Level Laser therapy (LLLT) effective in reducing pain and improving range of motion. (5, 6)
It has also been found that almost half of all fallers will experience a repeat fall within the next year, particularly in older populations over the age of 65 and so prescribing an effective home exercise plan is a good way to reduce the risk of incidences happening again by strengthening relevant muscle groups protecting the injury site. (1) The exercises prescribed to an individual will be determined by context of the injury, age and ability but will commonly aim to improve strength of the injured area, overall coordination and balance.
George Block
BSc Sports Rehabilitation
References:
1: Berry, S.D. and Miller, R.R. (2008) ‘Falls: Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and relationship to fracture’, Current Osteoporosis Reports, 6(4), pp. 149–154. doi:10.1007/s11914-008-0026-4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2793090/
2: Heather, A. Wallace, Brandon M. Basehore; Patrick M. Zito. (2023) Wound Phases, StatPearls – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470443/
3: Management for acute soft tissue injuries (2025) Pure Sports Medicine. Available at: https://puresportsmed.com/blog/posts/soft-tissue-acute-injury-management#:~:text=The%20early%20stage%20of%20a,redness%20and%20loss%20of%20function.
4: Jennifer Fisher, Mms. (2023) Fall prevention: Strategies to help keep you from falling down, Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/fall-prevention-strategies-to-help-keep-you-from-falling-down
5: Wickenheisser, V.A. et al. (2019) ‘Laser light therapy in inflammatory, musculoskeletal, and autoimmune disease’, Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, 19(8). doi:10.1007/s11882-019-0869-z. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7357616/
6: Nussbaum, E.L. et al. (2017) ‘Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for treatment of Muscle Impairment: Critical Review and recommendations for clinical practice’, Physiotherapy Canada, 69(5), pp. 1–76. doi:10.3138/ptc.2015-88. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5683854/