Are You At Risk For Falling?
No-one has a crystal ball to predict what will happen on a given day in the future. But there are ways of assessing your risk of certain things happening.
We measure blood pressure as an early warning sign of the risk of a heart attack or stroke
We measure fasting blood sugar levels to assess the risk of developing diabetes
Sometimes statistics make for sad or annoying reading, but they still tell a truth we need to hear. 1 in 4 people over 65 fall every year. Not every fall is dramatic, but for many, it can lead to a dramatic, permanent loss of independence.
So how can you get a realistic view of your risk of falling today?
Use the National Council on Aging’s Falls Free Checkup to assess some of the risk factors that can be self-reported
Ask your doctor or physical therapist to evaluate your physical ability related to fall risk
Use a ZIBRIO Stability Scale and get the peace of mind that comes with assessing your fall risk from day to day, week to week, at your own convenience.
Bear in mind that most tools used by doctors and physical therapists are not very good at predicting future falls, especially if you haven’t fallen in the last year. The scientific literature shows that these tools fail to identify 69-84% of people who are at high risk, but they might flag some issues such as weakened leg muscles or joint stiffness.
The majority of falls actually occur around the home, which is why a lot of fall prevention advice is about the typical things that affect everyone:
Remove or reroute trailing cables
Check area rugs so they don’t become trip hazards
Remove other objects from the floor that might trip you up
install proper lighting, including night lights. Consider tap-on lights or voice-activated lights
Change habits - don’t run for the phone, allow people to leave a voicemail if you can’t get there in time.
These are important pieces of advice if you’re new to the subject. But what about your personal, intrinsic risk factors? The things that are going on inside your body? The outside risks are only part of the story. You need to keep yourself strong to meet them.
Don’t buy into the myth that you ‘naturally’ get weaker and more prone to falling. Balance does decline with age, but the main factor in decline is that people stop moving. And it doesn’t involve crazy effort to make a difference. Your balance is your friend. It isn’t hard to maintain, it just needs frequent attention. Think orchid rather than cactus.
Doing a short balance exercise session every day is better than once a week
It doesn’t have to involve weights (though resistance training is good for overall health)
If you’re not sure what to do, ZIBRIO has trained Balance Specialists available to help you - in person, or virtually. Find them here.
And once you start working on your balance, wouldn’t it be great to see how fast you’re progressing? Get your own ZIBRIO Stability Scale here.