Over 400 risk factors leading to falls have been identified including
lack of physical activity resulting in loss of muscle tone, decreased bone mass, poor balance, and reduced flexibility, impaired vision, medications, disease including Parkinson’s, dementia, stroke and arthritis, surgery, and environmental hazards.
MYTH – Many people believe that falls are an inevitable part of ageing, but the surprising TRUTH is, that they’re not. Most falls can be prevented and we all have the power to reduce the risk.
The risk of falls can be decreased by EXERCISING, as well as managing your medications, having your vision checked, and making your living environment safer.
We can help reverse this with simple exercises recommended by Physiotherapists to help improve muscle strength, balance and co-ordination, as seen in Saga magazine.
Starting at age of 30 our muscles can lose up to 8% of their strength every decade, so by the time we are 80 we potentially lose 40% of our strength.
What can we do? The recommended activity level is 30 minutes, five times a week. As part of your daily activity, walking, gardening, cycling, all counts as physical activity. Experts advise twice per week muscle strengthening exercises for people over age of 65.
Having good balance is also very important in preventing falls and fractures, and specific exercises can be prescribed by your physiotherapist to help improve this.