Abstract
Purpose: Physical Therapy (PT) and Behavioral Health (BH) often overlap in patient care; however, collaborative treatment is always not utilized by providers. This case study details the interdisciplinary treatment of a 69-year-old female with a fear of falling; emphasizing the importance of interprofessional collaborative care in treating Fear of Falling (FOF) in individuals at risk for fall-related injury with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and PT interventions.
Problem: FOF is common among older adults and can result in physical, psychological, and social consequences (Lee & Tak, 2023; MacKay et al., 2021). Patients at risk of fall-related injury experience decreased self-confidence in their ability to ambulate, thus resulting in reduced functioning in biopsychosocial domains.
Significance: Collaborative, interprofessional treatment allows for the treatment of the whole person: body and mind. To help increase performance in mobility and mindset, the BH and PT collaboratively treated the patient, allowing her to decrease avoidance behaviors and increase necessary activities participation; ultimately, the collaboration led to better care for the patient.
Implications: Facilitating collaborative treatment strategies within the interdisciplinary care team allows for patients to make significant gains. Interprofessional care highlights the importance of addressing all of the biopsychosocial factors that impact a patient’s presentation and ultimately leads to better outcomes for patients.
Conclusion: The case study highlights how PT-BH collaboration can increase patient responsiveness to treatment and potentially decrease overall recovery time by addressing the mind and body connection as it relates to complex medical conditions in older adult patients.
How could this topic be generalized to other health professions?
Collaborative, interprofessional treatment allows for the treatment of the whole person: body and mind.
Which allied health professions were a part of the study or investigated?
Physical Therapy; Counseling
Recommended Citation
Uhren, A., Delap, C., & Jansen, K. (2026). Fear of Falling: A Collaborative Approach to Treatment. Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration, 6(1). Retrieved from https://repository.ulm.edu/ojihp/vol6/iss1/5
