Many of the traumatic injuries we see in physical therapy result from falls. As adults continue to age, their balance mechanism declines increasing the likelihood of falling. Cardio and strength training exercises are the most popular types of training. Although these are important, balance training should also be incorporated into your workout regimen to help prevent falls.
Select the correct answer below.
More older adults are falling because…
A) Older adults are often on medications that increase the risk of falls.
B) Older adults are more active than they have been in the past, putting them in situations that risk falls.
C) There are more older adults, so there will be more falls.
D) All of the above
D is correct.
Other important factors:
Corrective lenses: older adults often wear progressive lenses. That means when they are looking down a flight of stairs, they may be looking through reading (often magnifying) glasses.
Shoes play a huge role: shoes that are comfortable and stable are now stylish. Walking is great exercise for your heart and health.
Falls are the leading cause of injury in adults aged 65 years or older. A serious fall can result in decreased functional independence and quality of life. Start adding balance exercises to your weekly routine today to help prevent injury from a fall.
For more information regarding balance from BaySport, read the following article: https://baysport.com/blog/regaining-balance/
Sources:
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is an excellent resource for learning about specific risks and ways to make home environments safer. https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/adultfalls.html
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2679279 (April 24, 2018)
About the Author:
Carol Triest received her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy from Stanford University. She has extensive experience in sports related injuries, orthopedics and industrial medicine.
