With winter around the corner and us having gotten a recent blast of freezing rain a concern that many people, especially older ones, have is that of slipping on snow or ice and falling. In this piece I share several tips to help with falls prevention.
#1 – Keep your paths and walkways clear
There is no replacement for properly sanding or salting your front steps, sidewalk, and walkway when there is ice. It isn’t fun and it can make an unglamorous mess but it can make a big difference in removing slipping hazards.
#2 – Make sure your home is well lit
Falls can increase when your room is dark or poorly lit – preventing you from seeing objects and potential tripping hazards around you. Having appropriate lighting of your room can prevent this.
Which brings me to…
#3 – Minimize tripping hazards
Examples of tripping hazards include:
- Kids toys
- Rugs & carpets
- Floor mats
- Uneven floor surfaces or damaged floors
- Cables or cords
I see clients trip over objects like these – often when not paying attention.
#4 – Work on power
When people think of power they think of athletes sprinting or jumping. Power is also important in fall prevention and is something we lose with age (1). The ability to quickly react and move to prevent a fall is essential.
Power training however requires proper guidance to do safely though – and this is where working with a Physiotherapist or Kinesiologist can come in handy.
I hope these help – please also read Part 2 of Winter Falls Prevention where I discuss more tips to help with preventing falls.
References
Young, A., Skelton, D.A. (1994). Applied physiology of strength and power in old age. Int J Sports Med, 15(3), 149-51
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment with either myself. Eric Bowman, BSc, MPT, PT, or another Waterloo physiotherapist at CARESPACE. We are happy to listen and are here to help!
