A Physio's perspective: Simple and effective. Try the Penguin walk to reduce your chance of falling!
With the recent snowfall in Markham & the GTA, I wanted to share a quick and easy tip to prevent falls. Try this whenever you have to walk on ice, snow, slush, wet ground, or any other slippery surfaces (of course avoid them if you can).
What are the statistics?
So many unnecessary falls happen each year leading to injuries, broken bones, long healing times, decreased mobility, and even death. Falls don't only affect seniors, I see plenty of young people at the Fracture clinic as well.
1 in 3 seniors (65+) fall at least once per year
1 in 4 seniors do not survive past 1 year post fall
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the sobering fact that in (2015): 28,000 people died directly from falls, 3 million more were admitted to emergency after a fall, and that around 50 billion US dollars (USD) were spent treating falls in that year alone
With an ageing population here in Markham, Ontario, Canada, falls prevention will be one of the biggest challenges in the coming future. My hope is that I can get some education out there to help as many people as we can as Physiotherapists. Prevention is always the best treatment!
Falls prevention
Of course changing the way you walk isn't the only falls prevention strategy. I will cover other topics later that are also evidence-based and have been shown to help prevent falls and/or decrease the impact of a fall. These include: strength training, aerobic exercise, coordination practice (e.g. tai chi), and other educational tips and tricks. Bookmark my page to stay up-to-date with my content!
Penguin Walk
Watch my video below on how to 'Penguin Walk' to avoid falls on slippery surfaces. It's affectionately named after the animal because...well, you'll see :).
Thanks for watching and reading!
References:
Stevens JA, Lee R. The Potential to Reduce Falls and Avert Costs by Clinically Managing Fall Risk. Am J Prev Med. 2018 Sep;55(3):290-297. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.035. PMID: 30122212; PMCID: PMC6103639.
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Medical Disclaimer: Nothing posted on this page is medical advice, health advice, professional advice, or substitute for advice from your Physician, or Healthcare Provider. Always contact your Physician, or Healthcare Provider for questions about personal health and/or medical condition(s).
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