The Caring Corner®
Ways to Avoid Falls
Let’s face, the older we get, the greater our risk of injury from falls becomes. The good news is that there are many things we can do to reduce our risk of falling as well as the likelihood that a fall will result in a fracture.
Here are some suggestions:
Be physically active. The more you exercise, the better your balance will be and the stronger your bones will be.
Practice your balance. Practice brushing your teeth while standing on one leg. Sounds easy, but it’s hard to do. The more accustomed we become to maintaining balance under different conditions, the less our risk of falling. Many yoga and Pilates classes also include balance components.
Review your medicines. Some medicines cause dizziness or interact in ways that affect your balance. Be sure to take account of herbal supplements vitamins and other non-medical products as well.
Check your blood pressure when lying and standing. Some people have good blood pressure when they are lying down, but it drops suddenly if they get up. This drop in blood pressure could cause them to faint and fall.
Get your vision checked. If your vision is failing, it may result in you not seeing changes in floor or ground surfaces. It might make you less able to perceive the relative distance of different objects, resulting in missteps and possible falls.
Use proper footwear. The nerves in our feet help us to determine the position of our bodies. Our shoes need to allow us to be firmly “in touch” with the ground, and must be securely fastened. Of course, use shoes that have good, gripping soles.
