Life is hard enough living day to day without having to consciously worry about standing on your own two feet. If you or an elder person you know has fallen, you’re not alone. More than 1 in 3 people aged 65 years or older falls each year. And while your life experience and wisdom increase with age, unfortunately so does your risk of falling and fall-related problems.
It is important to take a moment to learn about what contributes to your fall risk, so you can take precautions to help prevent falls and their related injuries.
Fall risk factors
The most common risk factors for falls in seniors include:
- Muscular weakness
- Balance disorders
- History of previous falls
- Quick change in blood pressure when getting up from lying down or sitting
- Slow reflexes
- Foot injuries or unstable shoes
- Vision problems
- Side effect of a medication
Strength and balance training with a physical therapist can help reduce your risk of falling. Additionally, you can make some changes at home and to your daily routine to help prevent falls.
Fall prevention
Some tips to keep in mind when trying to prevent falls include::
- Remove clutter or loose rugs that can be easily tripped over.
- Arrange furniture to give you plenty of room to walk freely.
- Always use the handrails when climbing or descending staircases.
- Make sure you have bright enough lighting in rooms, entrances and hallways.
- Install grab bars near your bathtub, shower and toilet.
- Have your medicines reviewed and your blood pressure checked.
- Get a vision checkup and avoid multifocal glasses when walking.
- Choose safe and supportive footwear.
Visit SOL today for help with fall risk prevention
While the risk of falling may be frightening, falls are most definitely not an inevitable part of life, even as you age. To prevent falls, speed strength skills are needed, like being able to take a quick step or to quickly grab for support. Strength and balance training can help decrease the number of falls and the number of injuries caused by falls anywhere from 15% to 50%.
Exercise programs are a great way to create a routine for you to minimize your fall risk and improve your functional mobility. Speak with a physical therapist at SOL about creating an exercise program that is suited to you to help with your muscle strength and balance.
Contact our team today for more information about preventing falls or to schedule an initial appointment.
