Preventing Falls – The Key To Staying Strong
Falls are the leading cause of injuries and hospitalisations amongst the elderly population. It is estimated that 1 in 3 people over 65 years of age will have a fall at least once a year. The type of injuries sustained from these falls may include fractures and dislocations mainly of the wrist, shoulder and hip joints, as well as bruises, sprains and head related injuries. Statistics have shown that these falls are more common in females than in males.
Some of the reasons why the elderly population become susceptible to having falls is the degeneration of muscles, joints and bone mass which affect balance and stability. There are also certain risk factors with age that increases the probability of having a fall which include osteoporosis, prolonged physical inactivity and vision related impairments.
Self managing conditions such as osteoporosis only through vitamin D and Calcium supplementation may not be enough to prevent having falls; prevention is always the best tool to avoid having these complications occurring further down the track.
What to do to prevent having a fall
Exercise through resistance training is the best way to prevent these incidents occurring. Resistance training at any age has been proven to improve strength, endurance, balance and stability amongst individuals that exercise on a regular basis.
Other types of exercises that help with balance and stability include Pilates which focuses of developing core strength and Yoga which can help with flexibility and balance through certain postures.
To find out more about resistance training and how to get started, book in for a gym floor appointment which is already included with your Health Mates gym membership.
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