By: Abby Wrightson, PT, DPT

Reasons for frequent falling 

Here are some reasons why your child may be experiencing frequent falling:

• Decreased strength, particularly in their core and legs. Having a strong core is important to controlling your body as you walk over uneven surfaces. Similarly, weakness in a child’s legs or ankles may make it difficult to run and jump, resulting in frequent falling. 
• Impaired coordination. Coordination is a term used to describe how your arms and legs are able to move together. Without appropriate coordination, it may be difficult for your child to move their body throughout space, resulting in falls. 
• Impaired vision or sensory processing. Vision and sensation throughout our body are important parts of our balance system. If you are having trouble seeing or difficulty feeling the ground, you may miss obstacles on the ground that cause tripping and slipping. 
• Impaired vestibular system. The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and helps the brain know where the head and neck are in space. Kids who have impaired vestibular systems may have difficulty understanding how their bodies are moving when playing, creating an increased risk of loss of balance. 



How We Can Help

Frequent falling as a child can be nerve-wracking for parents, and we are here to help! If you think your child would fall into one of these categories, reach out to Hogg Therapy to schedule a physical therapy evaluation. We can work together to help your child play and move safely and efficiently! Give us a call at 859-353-3666!

Works Cited: Adolph KE, Cole WG, Komati M, et al. How do you learn to walk? Thousands of steps and dozens of falls per day. Psychol Sci. 2012;23(11):1387-1394. doi:10.1177/0956797612446346