Facts About Falls

Facts About Falls:

• • More than one out of four older people falls each year, 1 but less than half tell their doctor. 2  
  • Falling once doubles your chances of falling again. 3

• Adults whom are unable to balance on one limb for 5 seconds has a 2.1 times higher risk of incurring serious injury as individuals whom can balance for more than 5 seconds₁₃

• From 2007 to 2016 fall death rates increased 30% in the U.S. for older adults

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury,₄,₅
• Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.6
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.6
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.7
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling,8 usually by falling sideways.9
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).10
• In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion.11 

What Can Happen After a Fall?

• Many falls do not cause injuries. But one out of five falls does cause a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury.4,5 These injuries can make it hard for a person to get around, do everyday activities, or live on their own. These can be very serious, especially if the person is taking certain medicines (like blood thinners). 
• An older person who falls and hits their head should see their doctor right away to make sure they don’t have a brain injury.  
• Many people who fall, even if they’re not injured, become afraid of falling. This fear may cause a person to cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker and this increases their chances of falling.12

What Conditions Make You More Likely to Fall?

Research has identified many conditions that contribute to falling. These are called risk factors. Many risk factors can be changed or modified to help prevent falls. They include:

• Lower body weakness
• Difficulties with walking or balance
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Use of medicines, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
• Vision or hearing problems
• Vestibular dysfunction
• Aging – decreased reflexes, joint problems, 
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Medical conditions – MS, neuropathy, CVA, migraines, HTN, orthostatic hypotension
• Home hazards
  • broken or uneven steps, and
  • throw rugs or cords that can be tripped over.

Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling.

Healthcare providers can help cut down a person’s risk by reducing the fall risk factors listed above.

What You Can Do to Prevent Falls:

Talk to Your Healthcare Professional

• See your PT to evaluate your risk for falling (balance, leg strength, flexibility) and talk with them about specific things you can do to decrease fall risk.  
• Exercise regularly with leg strengthening and balance exercises, participate in Tai Chi.
• Use of cane or walker
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines to see if any might make you dizzy or sleepy. This should include prescription medicines and over-the counter medicines (Vitamin D, Calcium).

Have Your Eyes Checked

Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year, and be sure to update your eyeglasses if needed.

If you have bifocal or progressive lenses, you may want to get a pair of glasses with only your distance prescription for outdoor activities, such as walking. Sometimes these types of lenses can make things seem closer or farther away than they really are.

Make Your Home Safer

• Get rid of things you could trip over.
• Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.
• Put railings on both sides of stairs.
• Make sure your home has lots of light by adding more or brighter light bulbs.

Call today to set up your balance and fall risk assessment.  303-900-2282

References

1. Bergen G, Stevens MR, Burns ER. Falls and Fall Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years — United States, 2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:993–998. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6537a2
2. Stevens JA, Ballesteros MF, Mack KA, Rudd RA, DeCaro E, Adler G. Gender differences in seeking care for falls in the aged Medicare Population. Am J Prev Med 2012;43:59–62.
3. O’Loughlin J et al. Incidence of and risk factors for falls and injurious falls among the community-dwelling elderly. American journal of epidemiology, 1993, 137:342-54.
4. Alexander BH, Rivara FP, Wolf ME. The cost and frequency of hospitalization for fall–related injuries in older adults. American Journal of Public Health 1992;82(7):1020–3.
5. Sterling DA, O’Connor JA, Bonadies J. Geriatric falls: injury severity is high and disproportionate to mechanism. Journal of Trauma–Injury, Infection and Critical Care 2001;50(1):116–9
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. Accessed August 5, 2016.
7. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP). 2012. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://hcupnet.ahrq.gov
8. External
9.  Accessed 5 August 2016..
10. Hayes WC, Myers ER, Morris JN, Gerhart TN, Yett HS, Lipsitz LA. Impact near the hip dominates fracture risk in elderly nursing home residents who fall. Calcif Tissue Int 1993;52:192-198.
11. Parkkari J, Kannus P, Palvanen M, Natri A, Vainio J, Aho H, Vuori I, Järvinen M. Majority of hip fractures occur as a result of a fall and impact on the greater trochanter of the femur: a prospective controlled hip fracture study with 206 consecutive patients. Calcif Tissue Int, 1999;65:183–7.
12. Jager TE, Weiss HB, Coben JH, Pepe PE. Traumatic brain injuries evaluated in U.S. emergency departments, 1992–1994. Academic Emergency Medicine 2000&359;7(2):134–40.

Vellas B, Wayne S, Romero L, Baumgartner R, Rubenstein LGarry P.  One-leg balance is an important predictor of injurious falls in older persons.  J AM Deriatric Soc. 1997;45:735-738.           Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control