Reduce Your Chance of Falling in Fall Prevention Month
Fall is upon us, which means that it’s a great time to talk about another type of fall – being injured in a fall. That’s why September is Fall Prevention Month.
Incredibly, one out of every four Americans experiences a fall each year. Every 11 minutes, an older person is treated in an emergency room for injuries received in a fall.
The good news is that almost all of these falls can be prevented.
Many injuries experienced in falls are minor, but some can be very serious and even disabling. Typical injuries are:
• Sprains like an ankle sprain.
• Fractures or broken bones, especially the foot, ankle, hip and arm.
• Head injuries range from a mild concussion to a more serious traumatic brain injury.
Additionally, after experiencing a serious fall, the victim often develops a fear of falling. This can cause even more injury because of a hesitating, faltering gait and weak bones from avoiding activities.
Risk Factors for Falls
It’s not just our senior citizens who are at risk of a fall. Anyone of any age can fall. Here are some of the primary risk factors:
- Lower body weakness
- Balance problems
- Poor vision
- Skimpy, worn or poorly-fitting footwear
- Some medications including sedatives, antidepressants and tranquilizers – and even some over-the-counter drugs
- Foot pain
- Foot deformities
- Environmental hazards such as clutter, throw rugs, electric wires, broken steps
Falls Can Be Prevented
Here’s how to reduce your risk of a fall or help a family member avoid falling:
- Gain strength and balance with exercises like Tai Chi.
- Discuss your chance of falling with your doctor. Go over both prescription and over-the-counter medications to see if any have side effects like sleepiness or dizziness.
- Get your eyes checked regularly. Update your glasses prescription as needed.
- Increase the safety of your home with an audit. Look for and eliminate slippery throw rugs, dangerous wires and clutter on the floor and stairways. Add lighting to entryways and stairs, and improve bathroom safety with grab bars.
Let’s Discuss Your Foot Pain and How Orthotics Can Help
For any type of foot or ankle pain, call us. Foot pain is not normal! If you have pain from bunions or any other foot or ankle condition or have suffered any type of foot injury, please call Dr. Christopher M. Funk, Dr. Bradley A. Whitaker or Dr. Peter C. Merrill at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. Our professional staff offers expert podiatry services at three Pima County offices: Tucson, Oro Valley and Green Valley. Please call us today at (520) 575-0800 to schedule your appointment.
