Falling safely is basically a simple skill, made somewhat difficult only by the need to unlearn the automatic reaction of reaching out one hand, with the elbow extended, when falling. To learn the new habit of falling safely, the patient:

1. Watches as falling safely is demonstrated and understands that this activity does not hurt

2. Practices tucking the head and holding the wheels of the chair in a stationary position, and performs these activities while the therapist simulates a fall, by lowering the chair back from a balanced wheelie position, at first slowly and through small arcs of motion, and then with increased speed and distance, never allowing the chair to actually fall

3. Practices true falls onto a decreasing pile of floor mats, until the habit of falling safely is ingrained

4. Practices blocking the legs, in addition to tucking the head and holding the wheels, during a fall

5. In an overturned chair, practices:
   • Positioning him/herself in a fallen chair, by pulling on the wheels to slide the buttocks back onto the seat, grasping the legs, and placing the legs to hang over the front of the seat
   • Locking the brakes, lifting the upper trunk, and then placing one hand directly behind the trunk, shifting the weight onto this arm, releasing the other hand's grasp on the chair, balancing on the supporting arm, and reaching the free arm to the opposite wheel
   • Rocking the chair to upright, by:
     • Forcefully and abruptly thrusting the chair upward from the floor until the chair is forward enough to unweight the supporting hand. At first, the therapist can assist with the forward rock of the chair, by pulling on the push handles while the patient pushes.
     • Inch the newly unweighted hand forward around the side of the chair, repositioning the hand rapidly and over short distances. At first, the therapist can help support the chair if the patient does not regain one-hand support of the chair quickly enough, to prevent it from rocking backward.