quote:

Originally posted by captain127:

I see lots of fall related injuries in my orthopedic practice many of which result in significant injury, especially broken hips in the 70+ age bracket.

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Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:

I see lots of fall related injuries in my orthopedic practice many of which result in significant injury, especially broken hips in the 70+ age bracket.

Here's my right hip:

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As we age our balance gets worse though exercises and activity can help improve that a lot. It's a good idea to test one's self by standing on one foot and see how long you can hold that. Standing on one foot (best to start on non carpeted floor) can also be used as an exercise to improve balance too among others.

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
“Typically, a person in their 50s should be able to balance on one leg for around 40 seconds. Someone in their 60s is looking at 20 seconds, and someone in their 70s is around 10 seconds,”

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Originally posted by grumpy1:
I fell a couple years while out shoveling the driveway and slipping on some ice under the snow. I instinctively fell in a way to protect myself and my down jacket helped cushion the fall. I just got up and did a lot of swearing LOL but now I always keep my shovel in hand until I am ready to go back into garage to use as an aid to keep from falling from ice again. If I have to go out shopping in inclement winter weather I park near where I can use a shopping cart to go into the store and back out to my car because very had to tell where that ice will attack again.

As we age our balance gets worse though exercises and activity can help improve that a lot. It's a good idea to test one's self by standing on one foot and see how long you can hold that. Standing on one foot (best to start on non carpeted floor) can also be used as an exercise to improve balance too among others.

https://www.healthline.com/hea...-your-overall-health

An exerpt.

“Typically, a person in their 50s should be able to balance on one leg for around 40 seconds. Someone in their 60s is looking at 20 seconds, and someone in their 70s is around 10 seconds,” Lubetzky continued. “Static balance is a multidimensional issue and there are numerous causes, such as neurological disease, orthopedic issues, vision, spatial issues, a sedentary lifestyle, reaction time, cognition, and other health problems. If it is difficult to balance on one leg, you should think about your overall health and fitness.”

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Originally posted by nhracecraft:
Unfortunately, falling on ice, especially when you don't even know it's there makes it nearly impossible to employ any countermeasures to mitigate the fall...Generally you're on the ground or seemingly horizontal just prior to impact before your brain even realizes you're falling!

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Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

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As we age our balance gets worse though exercises and activity can help improve that a lot. It's a good idea to test one's self by standing on one foot and see how long you can hold that. Standing on one foot (best to start on non carpeted floor) can also be used as an exercise to improve balance too among others.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Very true. I have been in physical therapy for the past six months to treat problems with balance. Progress is slow but it definitely helps

quote:

Originally posted by nhracecraft:

quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:
I fell a couple years while out shoveling the driveway and slipping on some ice under the snow. I instinctively fell in a way to protect myself and my down jacket helped cushion the fall. I just got up and did a lot of swearing LOL but now I always keep my shovel in hand until I am ready to go back into garage to use as an aid to keep from falling from ice again. If I have to go out shopping in inclement winter weather I park near where I can use a shopping cart to go into the store and back out to my car because very had to tell where that ice will attack again.

As we age our balance gets worse though exercises and activity can help improve that a lot. It's a good idea to test one's self by standing on one foot and see how long you can hold that. Standing on one foot (best to start on non carpeted floor) can also be used as an exercise to improve balance too among others.

https://www.healthline.com/hea...-your-overall-health

An exerpt.

“Typically, a person in their 50s should be able to balance on one leg for around 40 seconds. Someone in their 60s is looking at 20 seconds, and someone in their 70s is around 10 seconds,” Lubetzky continued. “Static balance is a multidimensional issue and there are numerous causes, such as neurological disease, orthopedic issues, vision, spatial issues, a sedentary lifestyle, reaction time, cognition, and other health problems. If it is difficult to balance on one leg, you should think about your overall health and fitness.”

Unfortunately, falling on ice, especially when you don't even know it's there makes it nearly impossible to employ any countermeasures to mitigate the fall...Generally you're on the ground or seemingly horizontal just prior to impact before your brain even realizes you're falling!

Regarding balance, every single time I get out of the shower, I'm balancing on one foot while thoroughly drying the other (including between the toes!) prior to putting a foot down on the bath mat. This is in part due my OCD not wanting to get the bath mat wet (w/ footprints especially!), but it also yields the benefit of exercising good muscle control and having excellent balance!

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Originally posted by ensigmatic:

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Originally posted by grumpy1:
“Typically, a person in their 50s should be able to balance on one leg for around 40 seconds. Someone in their 60s is looking at 20 seconds, and someone in their 70s is around 10 seconds,”

One of the exercises I do is balance on this Isokinetics Inc. Brand Deluxe Balance Board for sixty seconds on each leg.

Another thing that's really good for balance training is forward-walking lunges. They're also good for knee and hip mobility.