Episode Summary
In this episode of The Aging Well Firefighter, we flip the script on fall prevention. Instead of only talking about avoiding falls, we dive into something overlooked but life-saving: training how to fall well and, just as importantly, how to get back up safely and confidently.
I’m joined remotely by Dr. Eric Meyer, Doctor of Physical Therapy and owner of MVP Rehab & Sports Performance in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (recently named Best Rehabilitation Facility in Dodge County). Dr. Meyer shares how physical therapy addresses more than just pain relief: it builds resilience, improves reflexes, and restores confidence. We talk about how PTs approach fall training, recovery skills, the use-it-or-lose-it principle, and how practicing confidence may be just as important as practicing strength.
By the end of this episode, you’ll see falling and rising in a whole new way.
If you missed the latest article in this series, you can catch up at www.agingwellfirefighter.com
Key Topics Covered
Why traditional healthcare often overlooks fall training
The swimming analogy: why learning how to fall is like teaching kids to swim
Protective reflexes, balance decline, and the use-it-or-lose-it principle
How physical therapy uses graded exposure to help patients practice falling safely
Why learning to get back up is just as important as learning to fall well
The crippling impact of fear of falling, and why confidence is a trainable skill
One practical habit everyone can start today to build resilience against falls
Memorable Insights from Dr. Meyer
“We don’t just want kids to stay out of the pool. We should also teach them to swim and how to get out safely. The same is true for falls.”
“Protective reflexes don’t just disappear with age, you lose them when you stop using them.”
“Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as a fall because it changes the way people move and live.”
“It’s not a new trick. It’s a skill you’ve had since birth, but you may need to practice it again.”
“Confidence isn’t something you’re just born with. It’s a skill you can build and strengthen, just like balance or endurance.”
Call to Action
For listeners: Don’t just avoid challenges; practice resilience. Learn how to fall and how to rise again. Share this episode with someone in your life who may need encouragement, whether that’s an older adult, a caregiver, or simply someone working to age well.
For patients in Wisconsin: If you’d like expert help in building these skills, reach out to Dr. Eric Meyer at MVP Rehab & Sports Performance. His team is passionate about helping people not just recover from injuries, but also thrive at every age.
Contact Dr. Eric Meyer – MVP Rehab & Sports Performance
🌐 Website & Booking: www.mvprehabwi.com
📧 Email: mvprehabwi@gmail.com
📞 Phone: 608-469-0072
Connect with Me, Roy Smalley
Instagram: @roysmalley.us
Facebook: @roysmalley.us
LinkedIn: roysmalley
All my links in one place: www.roysmalley.us
Invitation to Subscribe
If this conversation resonated with you, don’t miss the next week, when we’ll wrap up our Falls Awareness Series. Hit subscribe on your podcast app so you’ll never miss an episode of The Aging Well Firefighter. And if you know someone who’d benefit from this discussion, share it with them today. You just might prevent the next fall they never saw coming.
