Fall Statistics

How big is the problem?

1. More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States (Hornbrook et al. 1994; Hausdorff et al. 2001).
2. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma (CDC 2005).
3. In 2005, 15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more than 433,000 of these patients were hospitalized (CDC 2005).
4. The rates of fall-related deaths among older adults rose significantly over the past decade (Stevens 2006).

Fall Prevention - Tai Chi

Falls among elderly has become a growing concern as it often comes with other complication such as bones fractures and in some serious cases, may lead to death. It is common to notice that in MRT train stations; there have been warning signs near almost every elevator which states that out of 10 people who fell from the elevator, 8 of which are elderly. This also show the current statistics and issue which we aim to address.

As falls are a major cause of fracture, along with fragile bones, there have been many exercise research which concentrated on fall prevention.

Exercises to Improve Balance 

Regular Exercise

Balance is a crucial ability, especially as we age. Every year, over 300,000 people are admitted to the hospital for broken hips, most often due to falling. Hip fractures often lead to disability and loss of independence. To avoid becoming one of this, add balance exercises into your physical activities.

Safety – Before You Start

 Always hold onto a chair or table when with one hand when trying a new balance exercise. As you improve, you can just rest your fingertips on the table or chair. Also, have someone next to you when doing balance exercises for the first time – the person can help steady you or catch you if you fall.

Side Leg Raise 1.Stand behind a table or chair, with feet at shoulder width. 2.Hold onto the table or chair for balance. 3.Lift your right leg to the side about 12 inches (or as far as is comfortable) while keeping your back and both legs straight. Hold for several seconds. 4.Repeat with your left leg and continue until you’ve done 10 with each leg.
Hip Flexion 1.Stand behind a chair or table and hold on for balance. 2.Bend one knee slowly toward your chest. 3.Hold for 1 second and then lower slowly. 4.Repeat with the other leg and continue until you have done 12 lifts with each leg.
Heel-To-Toe •Walk while placing the heel of one foot just in front of the toe of the other. Hold onto to a table or counter while trying this.
One Foot •While holding onto a chair or table, stand on one foot, then switch feet.