Falling.
Not a bad thing when you’re young. You get yourself
up, dust yourself off, and start all over again. But when you get older,
falling is more menacing: risk of hip fracture, broken bones, slower healing.
OrthoIllinois Chiropractic understands this and supports its McHenry patients and
friends to be careful and be aware of skills to prevent falls. One of the best
skills to prevent falling is good posture.
But, first, what makes falling such a danger in need of
prevention? OrthoIllinois Chiropractic offers these statistics:
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 older McHenry people do you know who
have fallen? Probably a few. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic takes care of many
McHenry patients and loved ones after a fall and finds these folks
much more cautious. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic 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. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic sees itself
as a member of the team to prevent falls.
A new research report OrthoIllinois Chiropractic 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) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic’s
chiropractic spinal manipulation may help correct this. With gentle, safe spinal
manipulation, your McHenry chiropractic physician - your McHenry back pain specialist - helps improve
mobility in the upper spine and potentially reset your balance.
McHenry 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 McHenry
chiropractor to increase your awareness about your environment and its risks
for falling is beneficial. Contact OrthoIllinois Chiropractic to set up your next
chiropractic visit as a step toward better posture and reduced fall risk.
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."