Fall is a great time of year in Nebraska! The temperatures are getting cooler and the leaves are changing colors. The smell of the leaves is in the air as they crunch underfoot walking in the neighborhood with the lack of bugs biting. It’s time that we talk about fall prevention, as statistically there are more falls that happen in the winter/cooler months than in the summer/warmer months.
Whether you’re an older or younger person you can be prone to falls or injuries at any age so keep the following check list in mind.
Hazards- tripping, lights and weather
Remove tripping hazards from your walking space is also something to consider. It’s important to secure rugs with a non-slip mat under them, two-sided tape, or sometimes just remove them from your home. Picking up loose cords or other items that are easy to trip over, cleaning up toys from your pet, children or grandchildren is also important as these are easy to trip on.
Light up your space. Whether you’re getting up in the night to tend to a child, get a drink of water, or use the toilet, having night lights in your house is a good idea. Keeping a flashlight on the nightstand is good practice also in case the power goes out. Good lighting allows you to be able to see everything that is around you to avoid slips and falls. Using a handrail is also never a bad idea when using stairs whether it is inside or outside your home.
Keep a snow shovel on your porch or just inside the door so you don’t have to go far in order to clear your porch, stairs and sidewalk of snow. Keeping ice melt and/or sand at the door and using it regularly on icy surfaces is helpful in reducing chances of falling.
Prevention- Exercise, footwear, medical professions
Good support on the feet is a key point for fall prevention. The shoes you wear are very important. You want something with good support and good tread on the bottom. Often times, dress shoes or heels are smooth on the bottom, making it more likely that you’ll slip and fall, especially on a wet surface. While you may not think about it, wearing flip flops, slippers or sock feet around the house can also increase your fall risk, especially as you age.
Exercises help keep your muscles strong, and less likely to fall. Some types of exercise you might try are walking, yoga, tai chi, balance exercises, and stretching. With winter approaching, walking in a mall or at the gym is safer than walking outside. Low force exercise also keeps your bones strong as you age, so you are less likely to have issues with bone weakness if you do fall.
Finally, talk with your friendly chiropractor or medical professional. They can help you get the correct exercises and stretches tailored for you. Prevention is the key to improve your balance and reduce your chance of falling. But if it happens, we can help keep you moving and reduce injuries for the next time.
Fletcher Chiropractic looks forward to meeting you and helping you stay in motion. If you’ve experienced a fall or have an issue, please give us a call today at 402-261-5766 or email at info@fletcherchiropracticllc.com. You can also find out more information at www.fletcherchiropracticllc.com.