Strength & Balance Physio for Older Adults: Support at Home Clients Welcome at Our Thornlie & Booragoon Clinics
FM Physiotherapy runs physiotherapist-supervised strength and balance programs for older adults at our clinics in Thornlie and Booragoon, Perth. Every program starts with an assessment and uses real gym equipment, progressed gradually by your physiotherapist. Support at Home clients, families and care partners are welcome.
Who this program is for
The program is for older adults who can travel to Thornlie or Booragoon and want to get stronger, steadier and more confident on their feet, with a physiotherapist guiding every step.
- Getting out of a chair, climbing stairs or getting in and out of the car is harder than it used to be
- You feel unsteady, or you've had a fall or a near-fall
- You've finished hospital rehab or home-visit physio and are ready for the next step
- You live with arthritis, osteoporosis or a joint replacement and want to stay active safely
- Your family or care partner wants you on a structured, supervised program
What happens in a session
Your first appointment is an assessment. After that, each session is supervised strength and balance training in the clinic gym, with your physiotherapist adjusting the load as you improve.
1. Assessment
We go through your health history, medications, falls history and goals, then test your strength, balance and walking. Simple measures such as standing up from a chair give us a starting point.
2. Strength training
You train with dumbbells, kettlebells and other gym equipment, starting light and building gradually. The focus is on the strength you use every day: legs for chairs and stairs, grip for carrying, and trunk strength for balance.
3. Balance and falls risk
Balance exercises are progressed safely, with support close by. Where it suits you, we also practise getting down to and up from the floor.
4. Progress testing
We repeat the same tests regularly, so you can see where you're at. With your consent, we share progress with your family, GP or Support at Home provider.
Why train in the clinic?
A lounge room limits what can be loaded and measured. In the clinic we have the equipment to progress you precisely, which is why many people move here after their home visits finish.
Using Support at Home funding for clinic physio
Physiotherapy is a clinical support under the Australian Government's Support at Home program, and participants don't pay a contribution towards clinical supports. FM Physiotherapy is registered with the Chung Wah Association and will register with other Support at Home providers on request.
How it works
- Tell your care partner you'd like physiotherapy with FM Physiotherapy
- Give us your provider's name. If it isn't Chung Wah, we contact them to register
- We confirm with your provider that clinic sessions are covered before your first appointment
- We invoice your provider directly
For current program rules, see health.gov.au or myagedcare.gov.au.
Other ways to pay
- Medicare Chronic Disease Management: GP referral required; a gap fee applies
- DVA: GP referral (D904) required
- Private health insurance: claim on the spot with HICAPS
- Private: no referral needed
Clinic or home visit: which suits you?
Choose the clinic if you can travel and want the most equipment and progression. Choose a home visit if getting out is hard, you've just come home from hospital, or your goal is a task inside your home. Many people start at home and move to the clinic.
Home visits cover the Perth metro area, north and south of the river, and down to Mandurah. See home visit physiotherapy.
Our Thornlie and Booragoon clinics
FM Physiotherapy has two clinics south of the river in Perth, both with free on-site parking.
- Thornlie: inside Prime Medical Centre, Shop 25/101 Forest Lakes Dr, Thornlie WA 6108
- Booragoon: inside Apex Badminton Centre, 17 Aldous Pl, Booragoon WA 6154
- Using a walking aid, or have other access needs? Tell us when you book and we'll plan around them
How to get started or refer
Book a strength and balance assessment online or call 0424 272 287. Care partners, case managers and GPs can refer through our online referral form.
- Book online, or call 0424 272 287
- Care partners and case managers: refer a client
- Questions about registering with your organisation: admin@fmphysiotherapy.com
Strength & balance physio FAQs
Common questions from older adults, families and Support at Home care partners about clinic-based strength and balance physiotherapy in Thornlie and Booragoon.
Can I use Support at Home funding for physio at a clinic?
Support at Home can fund physiotherapy as a clinical support, and participants don't pay a contribution towards clinical supports. Ask your care partner to arrange physio with FM Physiotherapy. We're registered with the Chung Wah Association, and we confirm with your provider that clinic sessions are covered before your first appointment.
Program rules can change, so check the current details on health.gov.au or myagedcare.gov.au.
Do I need a referral or a GP letter?
Not for private sessions. Support at Home clients are usually arranged through their care partner. You need a GP referral to use a Medicare Chronic Disease Management plan, and DVA clients need a GP referral (D904). If you've recently had surgery or a fall, a letter from your GP or specialist helps us plan safely.
What does a strength and balance session involve, and how long does it take?
The first appointment is an assessment of your strength, balance, walking and falls risk, plus your health history and goals. Follow-up sessions are supervised strength and balance training with gym equipment, adjusted by your physiotherapist each time. Standard appointments are 30 minutes, and longer 60-minute appointments are available.
How often should older adults do strength training to reduce falls risk?
The World Health Organization recommends older adults do muscle-strengthening activity on at least two days a week, and activity that emphasises balance and strength on three or more days a week to help prevent falls. Most of our clients combine supervised clinic sessions with a short home exercise program on the other days.
Source: WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020).
What if I can't get to the clinic?
Then a home visit is the better place to start. FM Physiotherapy visits clients at home across the Perth metro area, north and south of the river, and down to Mandurah. Many people start with home visits and move to the clinic program once getting out is easier, with the same team.
Is it safe if I have arthritis, osteoporosis or a joint replacement?
For most people, yes, when the program is assessed and supervised. Strength training is commonly recommended for arthritis and osteoporosis, and after a joint replacement once your surgeon's precautions allow. Your physiotherapist adjusts the exercises and load around your condition, your pain and any precautions from your GP or surgeon.
Book a strength & balance assessment
Clinics in Thornlie and Booragoon with free parking. Support at Home, Medicare, DVA, private health and private clients welcome. Call 0424 272 287 or book online.