Risk of Falling and Balance Chiropractic

Every year, people injure themselves in slip-and-fall accidents. Most falls are caused by the
interaction of multiple risk factors, some of which are modifiable. A fall can be a major issue for
public health and in serious cases, it can cause long-term disabilities or even death.
Here are some facts regarding the risk of falling:

The risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At he age of 80, over half of seniors
fall annually and those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again
About one third of the elder population over the age of 65, fall each year.
More than 40% of people hospitalized from hip fractures, do not return home and are
not capable of living independently again and about 53% of discharged adults for
fall-related hip fractures, will experience another fall within six months.
Unfortunately, these figures fall short of the actual number since many incidents are
unreported by seniors and unrecognized by family members or healthcare providers.
According to the National Cancer institute, the lifetime risk of hip fracture for a
50-year-old, is somewhere between 4 and 11% for a 50-year-old man and
13 and 22% for a woman.

Healthcare providers can lower a persons risk by minimizing that individuals risk factors. To
prevent falls, healthcare practitioners identify and modify some of the risk factors that
individuals and the whole community are exposed to in order to effectively reduce falls. While
age, poor vision and muscle weakness cannot be modified among the elderly, healthcare
specialists can improve or modify psychoactive medications, the use of assistive devices and
home hazards.

Why People Fall

Falls dont just happen and people dont just fall because they are getting old. More than one
underlying cause is involved in a fall. The most common reasons for falls have been
summarised in 12 studies namely
31% Accident / Environment
17% Gait / Balance disorder
15% Other specified
10% Dizziness / Vertigo
5% Unknown
4% Confusion, even for a short while

3% Visual problems (poor depth perception, cataracts and glaucoma).

3% Postural hypotension

Other important risk factors believed to be the root cause for many of falls incidents, are the
effect of drugs on the elderly and the difficulties surrounding medication compliance. Studies
show that people who take four or more prescription drugs, have a greater risk of falling than
people who take fewer drugs. This just shows that the health problems for which the person
takes the medications may also contribute to the risk of falls.

Balance Chiropractic and Reducing the Risk for Fall

Your balance is related not only to your ears and eyes but also to your feet, knees, spine and
the nervous system that controls all these. Seniors who have deficits in middle ear function or
vestibular system, may have poor feedback from malfunctioning or arthritic knees, hips and
spines causing falls. While the neck is crucial when it comes to balance, arthritis and other
motion-deficits in the neck, can severely impact normal balance.
Even as you get older, falls are not an inevitable part of life. Doctors of chiropractic care,
recognize that balance is constantly shifting and changing and thats why they are uniquely
trained in assessing joint function that may affect the function of the nervous system.
Chiropractors believe that a well-coordinated nervous system means a well-coordinated you!
You can take action to prevent falls. Your chiropractic doctor is your partner in taking action to
prevent falls. They can help you decide what changes to help in you living, not just a long time
but living well. To help you minimize or prevent future problems or to help your family live
better, visit a highly-qualified chiropractor now.
Originally posted on http://www.balancechiropractic.net.au/risk-falling-balancechiropractic/