December 16, 2014

Falling.

It's not the end of the world when you’re young. You get yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. When you get older, falling can be a very big deal featuring: risk of hip fracture, broken bones, slower healing. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows this and encourages its Sitka patients and friends to be mindful and know skills to prevent falls. One of the best skills to keep yourself from falling is good posture.

But, first, what makes falling such a danger in need of prevention? Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka offers these facts:

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older folks. (1)
1 in 3 of those over 65 years falls each year. (1)
Falls cost $30 billion in direct medical fees. (1)
The most common fractures due to falls are to the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand. (1)
More than 95% of hip fractures are due to falling. (2)
Women suffer 75% of all falls (2), but more men die from hip fractures due to falls (1).
Many develop a fear of falling which limits their activity. (1)

So how many elderly Sitka people do you know who have fallen? Probably a few. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka takes care of many Sitka patients and loved ones after a fall and finds these folks much more cautious. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka encourages them to keep moving, check for and treat any osteoporosis risk there may be, and boost calcium and vitamin D intake to improve bone health as much as possible. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka sees itself as a member of the team to prevent falls.

A new research report Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka just came across discusses the importance of good posture in the prevention of falling. Good posture lends itself to good balance which reduces the chance of falling. (3) A flexed forward posture in which the head leans forward and the upper back curves to some extent disrupts your center of mass. Such curvature of the spine may even be due to past vertebral fractures. Whatever the cause, this posture forces you to lean forward awkwardly, setting you up for a fall. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka’s chiropractic spinal manipulation may help correct this. With gentle, safe spinal manipulation, your Sitka chiropractic physician - your Sitka back pain specialist - helps improve mobility in the upper spine and potentially reset your balance.

Sitka chiropractic care with Cox Technic and simple exercise and basic supplementation may reduce your fear of falling and even improve your posture when walking. Just a discussion between you and your Sitka chiropractor to increase your awareness about your environment and its risks for falling is beneficial. Contact Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka to set up your next chiropractic visit as a step toward better posture and reduced fall risk.

Back to Spine Articles