Are you over 50? Now is the time to start thinking about falls prevention for when you are older.

‘It takes a child one year to acquire independent movement and ten years to acquire independent mobility. An old person can lose both in a day’ Professor Bernard Isaacs (1924–1995). 

Although falling over can be a concern at any age, it is particularly a problem for older adults. For those 65 years and older, 30% will have a fall each year. In recent years, 60% of falls-related hospitalisations were among people aged 65 and over, and 56% of these were females. If this sounds like you, contact us here to start a personalised program with our allied health team which can help you prevent falls. 

Despite efforts by researchers and clinicians to understand and manage fall risks, the consequences can be severe. A fall has the potential to lead to trauma, serious health issues, disability, hospitalisation, and even death. 

There is a higher likelihood of fracturing a bone when you fall in older age due to the tendency for bone density to decrease as we age. Bone density can be built up and strengthened over time, so this is why it is so important for there to be a focus on doing everything we can to maximise bone health in adults and reduce their risk of falling. Fortunately there are things that you can do to reduce these risks. 

Exercise, good diet and nutrition, lifestyle management and medical management if required can help optimise a person’s bone health. Exercise can also improve muscle strength, improve balance and can help to reduce a person’s falls risk. Improvement in  bone density can be seen however takes months if not years to see changes.

At a professional development session at Move for Better Health, our practitioner team discussed risks relating to falls, and how we might aid falls prevention. This issue is critical to our clients, as many of them are at the ideal age to work on issues that put them at risk now and in the future.

So, what are some of the factors that may increase an older adult’s risk of falling and the seriousness of consequences?

• Not being strong or fit enough for the daily activities they participate in
• Home environment risks such as poor lighting, slip and trip hazards
• Vision issues not being addressed
• Being on multiple medications (certain types of medications are higher risk also)
• Poor nutritional status
• Inappropriate footwear and/or foot and ankle issues

What are some things that can be done for falls prevention?

• Having an assessment with a Physiotherapist to screen for and manage any falls risk factors. These risk factors can be within the home or in the community, and a Physio can help make a plan to reduce the risks or work around them 
• Participating in an individualised exercise program including balance, mobility, strength and functional exercises supervised by either a Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist.
• Try Move for Better Health’s Osteofit program. OsteoFit is specifically designed for those with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, as well as those who are wanting to improve their bone density to reduce the risk of these conditions developing in the future. This program incorporates falls prevention strategies, balance exercises, and weight bearing exercises to improve low bone density. Read more about the program here. 
• Having a review with a Podiatrist for your footwear, and to manage any foot and ankle related issues that might be present
• Seeing a Dietitian to review your diet, to make sure you’re getting the right balance of nutrients to support healthy bones
• Seeing a GP if you are concerned that medications are contributing to feeling unbalanced or dizzy

If you, or a loved one, could benefit from seeing one of our team for an assessment relating to falls or bone density, contact us however is most convenient for you! 

• Phone us at Malvern (08) 8373 5655, at Magill (08) 7078 0303 or at Glenelg (08) 8295 1294 
• Use our Online Booking Gateway (available 24/7) to choose your appointment time
• Drop in to see us in person
• Email us on info@moveforbetterhealth.com.au