Reduce Injuries From Falling

With winter here, the risk of slipping and falling on ice is greatly increased. Falls can be a huge source of musculoskeletal injuries and can commonly result in head/brain trauma. Take some steps this winter to improve your chances of staying upright!

• Wear appropriate footwear while walking outside. Your winter footwear should be designed for comfort and high traction (not for style or glamour).
• Avoid running and walking briskly. Avoid sudden changes in your direction.
• Many people put their hands in their coat pockets to keep their hands warm while walking. However, you may need your hands free to break a fall when you slip. On that note, try to catch yourself with a slight bend in your arm, falling on a rigid outstretched arm can lead to wrist and shoulder injuries.
• If you are on certain types of medications like blood thinners, you may be at a much higher risk for poor outcomes from a fall. Keep this in mind if you do suffer a fall – the results may be more severe than they first appear, don’t take it lightly.
• Avoid all kinds of distractions while walking. A recent study published in the journal Injury Prevention reported about one in three pedestrians is distracted by mobile devices while crossing the street. Put your phone down when you’re walking over a slick surface, especially in the middle of the road.
• If you’re walking up or down a steep incline, try walking sideways.

Balance is extremely important when the ground gets slippery. Specific exercises and manual therapy can be implemented to improve coordination of the hips, calves, ankles and feet and decrease the likeliness of falling. We test balance with all of our new patients in the office. If you know someone who is prone to falling or is just plain clumsy, send them in. If we can help them, we will.