For Providers
SteadyUp is a safety-first balance training app designed for adults 65+. Use it as a simple at-home complement to fall-prevention counseling, home exercise planning, and community programming. This page includes the provider clearance checklist used during onboarding, clinician education links, and a short evidence snapshot with citations.
Patient-friendly starting points: Balance Age test and 5-minute at-home balance tests.
Contact
contact@balanse.app
Introduce your clinic or program and what you're looking for (referrals, partnerships, or clinical feedback).
Try SteadyUp
Download for iOS or Android.
Free to start • About 1 minute a day
A simple way to recommend SteadyUp
- 1) Screen for readiness. If you need extra clarity for higher-risk patients, use the onboarding clearance checklist below.
- 2) Set up for safety. Encourage sturdy hand support (counter or chair), a clear space, good lighting, and supervision when appropriate.
- 3) Start small and stay consistent. A short, repeatable routine is often easier to stick with than a long program.
Provider clearance (minimum balance requirements)
During SteadyUp onboarding, some users are asked to confirm clearance from a primary care provider or physical therapist based on their safety questionnaire responses. The form below outlines minimum functional requirements and common contraindications to support an informed discussion.
View the provider assessment form
SteadyUp™ Balance Training Program
Medical Provider Assessment Form — Minimum Balance Requirements.
This is a safety and readiness checklist for patients who may require clinical clearance during SteadyUp onboarding. It is not a diagnostic tool or a substitute for clinical judgment.
Patient & Provider Information
Dear Healthcare Provider
Your patient is interested in using SteadyUp™, a mobile application that provides gentle balance training exercises designed for adults 65 and older. This form outlines the minimum physical requirements for safe participation.
SteadyUp™ is not
- A medical treatment or physical therapy replacement
- Suitable for acute rehabilitation
- Appropriate for severe balance impairments
SteadyUp™ is
- A wellness tool for maintaining and improving balance
- Designed for community-dwelling older adults
- Safety-first balance practice with guidance and progression
Minimum Functional Requirements
To use SteadyUp safely, the patient should be able to:
Basic mobility
Stand independently for 30 seconds
With or without hand support on a stable surface (chair back, counter).
Transition from sit-to-stand independently
May use arms for push-off from chair, 5 repetitions minimum.
Walk 10 feet with or without assistive device
Cane may be appropriate; walker users need additional assessment.
Maintain standing balance with feet together for 10 seconds
Light fingertip support on a stable surface is acceptable.
Cognitive & sensory
Follow 2-step verbal commands
Understand and execute simple exercise instructions.
Adequate vision to see the smartphone screen
With corrective lenses if normally worn.
Protective sensation in feet
Ability to feel the floor/ground for balance feedback.
Foundation Level Exercises (Level 0)
Patients begin with gentle exercises performed with stable hand support available (chair or counter).
Sit to Stand
Rising from chair with controlled movement.
Feet Together Stand
Static balance with a narrow base of support.
Weight Shifts
Controlled lateral weight transfer between feet.
Forward Lean
Anterior weight shift with return to center.
Heel Raises
Bilateral calf raises with support.
Marching in Place
Alternating knee lifts with support.
Tandem Stance
Heel-to-toe standing with support.
Single Leg Stand
Brief unilateral stance with support (3–5 seconds).
Exercises include real-time feedback and adapt based on performance.
Absolute Contraindications
Do not clear for SteadyUp if the patient has any of the following (unless otherwise clinically appropriate).
Cardiovascular
- Uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias
- Acute myocardial infarction (< 6 weeks)
- Unstable angina
- Severe orthostatic hypotension (drop > 20 mmHg systolic)
- Uncontrolled hypertension (> 180/110)
Neurological
- Active vertigo or acute vestibular disorders
- Recent stroke or TIA (< 3 months)
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Severe cognitive impairment (MMSE < 20)
- Active Meniere's disease
Musculoskeletal
- Recent lower extremity fracture (< 12 weeks)
- Recent joint replacement without PT clearance (< 12 weeks)
- Acute back pain limiting standing
- Active foot ulcers or wounds
- Severe lower extremity arthritis limiting weight bearing
Other
- Active DVT or PE
- Recent major surgery (< 6 weeks)
- Severe peripheral neuropathy with absent protective sensation
- Current use of walker (cane users may be appropriate)
Medication Considerations
Exercise caution and consider modifications for patients taking:
| Medication class | Specific concerns | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Benzodiazepines | Sedation, impaired balance | Consider seated or closely supervised starts. |
| Opioids | Dizziness, sedation | Exercise only when alert, with supervision. |
| Multiple antihypertensives (≥3) | Orthostatic hypotension | Monitor BP; emphasize slow position changes. |
| Antipsychotics | Extrapyramidal effects | Close supervision recommended. |
| Anticonvulsants | Dizziness, ataxia | Ensure therapeutic levels are stable. |
Recommended Safety Modifications
For higher-risk patients who meet minimum requirements:
Supervision
Family member or caregiver present during the first 2 weeks.
Environment
Clear 6×6 ft space, remove rugs, ensure good lighting.
Support
Sturdy chair or kitchen counter always within reach.
Timing
Exercise when most alert (avoid evenings if sundowning).
Duration
Start with 5–10 minutes; progress slowly.
Frequency
3× per week minimum for benefit.
Provider Clearance
Provider Resources
Questions? Email contact@balanse.app.
SteadyUp exercises are informed by established fall-prevention programs including the Otago Exercise Program and CDC's STEADI initiative.
SteadyUp™ is a wellness application by Balanse, Inc. This form is provided for medical clearance conversations and does not constitute medical advice.
Professional education materials
Clinician-facing resources you can use for screening, patient counseling, and fall-prevention program design (including CDC STEADI).
CDC
Physical Activity for Older Adults (65+): Recommendations overview
CDC overview of weekly physical activity guidance for adults 65+, including balance activities (alongside aerobic and muscle-strengthening). Useful for simple, patient-facing counseling language.
Open resource →
USPSTF
Falls prevention in community-dwelling older adults: interventions (Recommendation Statement)
USPSTF recommendation to refer community-dwelling adults 65+ at increased risk of falls to exercise interventions; commonly studied programs include gait, balance, and functional training (often alongside strength).
Open resource →
CDC
CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries)
A clinician-focused toolkit for older adult fall risk screening, assessment, and evidence-informed interventions. Includes workflows and materials that can be integrated into outpatient and community settings.
Open resource →
CDC
STEADI clinical resources (healthcare professionals)
Clinical resources organized by care setting with practical tools for screening, assessing, and intervening. Useful when integrating fall risk conversations into routine workflows.
Open resource →
CDC
STEADI training (healthcare professionals)
Training materials to support implementation of fall-risk screening and intervention pathways. Helpful for teams adopting standardized approaches across clinicians and staff.
Open resource →
CDC
STEADI algorithm (PDF)
A concise, step-by-step clinical algorithm for screening and follow-up. Useful as a quick reference for triage and next actions.
Open resource →
CDC
STEADI patient resources
Patient-facing materials and handouts that support counseling and home safety planning. Helpful for reinforcing key messages outside the clinic.
Open resource →
Harvard Health Publishing
Balance and strength exercises may help reduce falls
A plain-language overview of balance and strength exercise as a practical part of fall prevention in older adults, with a focus on safe, progressive activity.
Open resource →
Peer-reviewed evidence (selected)
A small selection of peer-reviewed reviews and trials supporting balance-focused exercise and fall-risk reduction strategies in older adults. Summaries are abbreviated; please refer to the full papers for methods and applicability.
Key takeaways (with citations)
- Balance-focused programs are associated with improved balance measures and fewer falls compared with controls ( Papalia et al. (2020)).
- Multimodal exercise (often combining resistance and balance) supports broad functional outcomes, and adherence may be better with group-based or technology-supported delivery ( Di Lorito et al. (2021)).
- Progressive challenge matters: programs that adjust difficulty to match ability can produce larger balance improvements than fixed protocols ( Blasco et al. (2019)).
- Balance training can improve functional balance and quality of life and may reduce falls in higher-risk populations (e.g., osteoporosis) ( Madureira et al. (2010)).
- Mechanism-driven fall-risk strategies commonly combine physical balance work with cognitive/dual-task considerations and confidence/fear-of-falling support ( Zhong et al. (2024)).
View selected studies (links + brief summaries)
Across randomized trials in older adults, exercise programs that include balance work are associated with improved balance measures and fewer falls compared with control conditions. Multimodal programs (balance + strength ± aerobic) are commonly highlighted as effective approaches.
A review of meta-analyses suggests multimodal exercise (often combining resistance and balance components) supports broad functional outcomes in older adults. Group-based delivery and technology-supported formats are frequently associated with better adherence.
In older women with osteoporosis, a year-long balance-focused program improved functional balance and quality of life, with fewer reported falls compared with controls. The study supports balance training as a practical component of fall-prevention programming.
This trial suggests that training dose and difficulty matter: programs that progress challenge to match ability can produce larger balance improvements than fixed, non-progressive protocols. It supports individualized progression rather than one-size-fits-all intensity.
A broad review synthesizes mechanisms behind fall-risk reduction and highlights the value of multicomponent interventions that address physical balance, cognition/dual-tasking, and confidence/fear of falling. It reinforces combining balance exercise with supportive behavioral and safety strategies.
SteadyUp provides training guidance and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.