Balancing against falls
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Strength and balancing exercises can help reduce falls and broken hips in all older people with one in three aged over 65 in Australia likely to experience a fall this year
The President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, Cathy Nall, said that balance for women “starts to decline over the age of 40, placing them at greater risk of falls and because older women can also be affected by conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, their risk of sustaining a fracture injury from a fall is greater.
“The good news is that exercise programs designed by physiotherapists can help improve strength, balance, endurance, fitness and bone density, all of which will help lessen the chance of falling.
“Many older people may already be exercising, but they need to be sure their technique is correct and that they are getting therapeutic benefit from it. Walking sticks and frames also need to be correctly prescribed and fitted – not borrowed from other people,” Ms Nall said.
With growing evidence that an assessment of home hazards to minimise the risks can also reduce falls, it can be useful to invite a health professional home to check for risks such as poor lighting, slippery mats, dangling electrical cords and clutter.
