Feet First: How to Assess Fall Risk from the Ground Up

Speakers:: Courtney Conley, DC | Jen Perez, DC
Duration:: 2 Hours 01 Minutes
Format:: Audio and Video
Copyright:: Dec 12, 2025
Product Code:: POS065653
Media Type:: Digital Seminar

Price
$129.99 - Standard

If you’re not evaluating the foot in your fall risk assessments, you’re missing a critical piece of the puzzle.

The foot is the body’s foundation for standing, balance, and movement—yet foot mechanics are rarely the focus of fall prevention. Many patients present with no foot pain, but subtle impairments in strength, alignment, or proprioception can lead to instability, altered gait, and increased risk of falling.

In this high-impact training, Dr. Courtney Conley and Dr. Jen Perez, founders of Gait Happens, will walk you through simple, evidence-based foot and ankle assessments that reveal hidden contributors to fall risk—even in patients who don’t fit the typical profile.

You’ll learn how to connect anatomy to function and apply clinical reasoning to assess diagnoses commonly linked to falls, including bunions, forefoot instability, and posterior tibial dysfunction. They will also share a real-world case study of a 71-year-old patient with no pain but a history of falls—and how targeted foot assessments uncovered the root cause.

Here’s What You’ll Walk Away With:

Simple foot & ankle tests to screen for fall risk—even in patients without pain
A clear clinical reasoning model: anatomy → assessment → intervention
Clarity on which foot & ankle diagnoses increase fall risk (and how to spot them)
A real case breakdown: exact assessments used and how to apply them tomorrow
Greater confidence in treating the “invisible contributors” to poor balance

Whether you’re working with athletes, weekend warriors, or aging populations, understanding foot function is non-negotiable. If you’re not looking at the foundation, your treatment plans are incomplete.

Don’t miss this opportunity to level up your assessments and deliver results that actually last.

Courtney Conley, DC Related seminars and products

Dr. Courtney Conley is the founder and creator of Gait Happens where she has the opportunity to truly realize her dream of helping as many people as possible reclaim their foot function.

She’s a renowned foot and gait specialist who teaches both nationally and internationally. Dr. Conley is a chiropractic physician who specializes in foot and gait mechanics. She holds a BA in Kinesiology, a BA in Human Biology, and a doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine.

She is the owner and operator of Total Health Solutions clinic and Total Health Performance gym in Lakewood, CO, where she heads patient care with a focus on restoring gait mechanics and helping people resolve foot problems to move more easily and with less pain.

Dr. Conley is a founding member of the Healthy Foot Alliance, an international team of practitioners whose collective goal is to bring light to the benefits of national footwear and prevent unnecessary surgical procedures by improving foot foundation and creating a stable platform from the ground up.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Courtney Conley is the co-owner of Force Couple, LLC., the owner of GaitHappens, and the owner and medical director of Total Health Solutions. She is a consultant with Altra Running and Belenka Barefoot. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Courtney Conley has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Jen Perez, DC Related seminars and products

Dr. Jen Perez is co-founder and vice president of Gait Happens and co-owner of Kinetic Chiropractic in Lafayette, CO. As both an educator and a clinician, her mission to empower as many people as possible to take charge of their lower body health so they can get back to doing what they love. Dr. Perez holds a BS in Kinesiology-Sports Medicine and a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree. She’s taught courses to healthcare practitioners both nationally and internationally and she works with clients virtually across the globe.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jenifer Perez is the owner of Kinetic Chiropractic and co-owner of Gait Happens, LLC. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Jenifer Perez has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)

Access never expires for this product.

Determine how impairments in foot and ankle anatomy—including forefoot instability, first ray stiffness, and posterior tibial weakness—can disrupt balance and increase fall risk during daily activities.
Choose foot and ankle assessments that help identify fall risk factors in patients with or without pain, to support safer gait, transfers, and functional mobility.
Utilize a clinical reasoning framework that connects foot structure and movement to fall prevention strategies, improving patient outcomes in standing tolerance, walking stability, and overall independence.

Why Feet Matter in Fall Prevention

The foot’s role in balance, posture, ADLs, and proprioception
How common foot dysfunctions contribute to fall risk—even without pain
What your assessments may be missing

Key Anatomical Connections to Fall Risk

Intrinsic vs. extrinsic foot muscle function in postural stability
First ray mobility, forefoot stability, and the base of support
Visual cues and movement patterns that indicate increased fall risk

Simple, Targeted Foot & Ankle Assessments You Can Use Tomorrow

Forefoot instability testing
Posterior tibial loading & collapse tests
Balance reactions and barefoot standing mechanics
Integrating these tests into your current fall risk screen

Diagnoses that Commonly Contribute to Falls

Bunions & hallux valgus: what’s functional vs. structural
Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (PTTD): the silent collapse
Forefoot instability and its role in late-phase gait disruption

Real Case Application

Case Study: 71-year-old patient with no pain, but frequent falls
Step-by-step walkthrough of the foot & ankle assessments used
How findings shaped the treatment plan
What you can apply to your next patient

Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapy Assistants
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Chiropractors
Athletic Trainers
Strength and conditioning coaches
Exercise physiologists

This product has not yet been rated

Satisfaction Guarantee
Your satisfaction is our goal and our guarantee. Concerns should be addressed to: PO Box 1000, Eau Claire, WI 54702-1000 or call 1-800-844-8260.

ADA Needs
We would be happy to accommodate your ADA needs; please call our Customer Service Department for more information at 1-800-844-8260.

PESI Mobile App

Access CE trainings on your phone or tablet through our free mobile app. Choose video or audio-only versions of online courses from the world’s best instructors, and complete your CE requirements anywhere, anytime, at your own pace.