Stopping slips and falls with science
September 25, 2013, 5:24 PM By Elizabeth O'Brien
It’s a common scenario: an older person falls, setting off a cascade of negative consequences. Maybe the tumble results in a broken hip and a hospital stay, or in bruises and a newfound fear of movement. Either way, falls often mark the start of a growing infirmity. They carry a big financial cost, too: In 2010, falls among older adults cost the U.S. healthcare system $30 billion in direct medical costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This week, Shirley S. Wang writes in The Wall Street Journal about new research on how we maintain our balance. Findings could help the elderly prevent falls and also help athletes such as gymnasts reach peak performance. The body has three main systems that help maintain balance, Wang explains: the visual system, which processes input from the outside; the proprioceptive system, which incorporates sensory systems throughout the body and tells us how the body’s parts are oriented relative to one another; and the vestibular system, located in the inner ear, which focuses primarily on how the head is moving. As people age, the vestibular system becomes less sensitive and individuals come to rely more on their vision, which is relatively slow in comparison (and, of course, also tends to deteriorate with age). As a result, Wang writes, older people don’t process information as quickly to correct for missteps. Interestingly, researchers at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia found that tripping accounted for just one out of five falling incidents in older Americans. (Researchers recorded 227 falls at a long-term care facility over about three years.) The most common reason for falling, accounting for 41% of the total, was incorrect weight shifting, like leaning over too far. Bottom line? According to experts, falls are most often due to internal imbalance, not the outside environment. Doctors can watch for a propensity to fall by watching patients walk around and shift their weight, standing up and sitting down. In addition to this assessment, families can discuss the best exercises to improve balance, gait, mobility, coordination and strength, according to Jennifer Tucker, vice president of Homewatch CareGivers, an international home care company. Also, families can reduce the risks of falling in the home by making sure all rooms are well lit and free of excess clutter and tripping hazards; grab bars in the bathroom can also help in that danger zone. |
which often creates complications such as heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, etc.,
which often leads to death.
If not, it leads them to cane, walker, wheelchair, temporary or permanent ecf staying.
It is a clear warning for the elderly for something worse yet to come.
It is something that frustrates physicians who are equally powerless for lack of effective remedies.
This article doesn't offer any new way to deal with it other than reminding us the problem
and pointing out the common sensical things one may do to prevent it.