Afterwaves of instabilty and doubt

No doubt about it, falls among the older adult population are a serious problem.   Not only are there more people getting older but the physical, emotional and financial consequences can be devasting.  Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and non-fatal injuries for those over 65 and falls are the leading cause for emergency room visits for the same age group.


A person who falls and doesn't require hospitalization is fortunate however that doesn't mean everything is going to be hunky dory after the fall.  Emergency rooms treat and release.  There are no take home instructions to help prevent another fall, no guide to explain what may have caused the fall and if a person lives alone, no reassurance that things will get better.

The other week a client fell at 5 am while getting up to go to the bathroom.  She lives alone but luckily her medical alert system alerted the fire department.  They took her to the ER to treat minor cuts on her arm and she was released several hours later. 

After resting a few days, she wanted to resume training.   During our first 'after fall' visit, she told me she was still "shook up" and still felt "shaky".  She was concerned because she is used to quickly bouncing back after any type of injury.  I reminded her that she is over 85 years old and the body takes longer to heal. 

I also told her that a fall is a traumatic event regardless of age.  The older you are, the more traumatic the fall can be.   Similar to an earthquake,  after a person falls there are after-waves that shake your stability and after-thoughts that crumble your confidence.  

What can you do to treat these after-shocks if you fall? 

1. Rest and let your body recover
2. Do what stretches you can do during this period (Basic 5 Stretches)
3. Realize that accidents happen.  Read my book to identify what may have caused you to fall
4. Continue with balance training and fall prevention exercises
5. Believe in yourself and your body's ability to improve

You may have to go back to the basics of fall prevention exercise and do some of your routine while seated but do something!  Otherwise your body will get stiff and sore.  Do exercises that you can successfully complete to increase your confidence.   Do NOT compare yourself to before the fall.  You suffered a traumatic event and you are experiencing afterwaves of instability and doubt!

Believe in yourself.  Learn about factors that increase the risk of a fall.  Do exercises designed to keep you balanced, strong and flexible.  Read my book and you will be well on your way to preventing another fall.


PS...my client is doing fine.   Because she exercises regularly, her body is in good shape which quickens the recovery process.  Little by little, she is gaining strength, endurance and confidence.    Remember, it's not how many times you fall but that you pick yourself up and keep going.  Life's a journey, keep on!