In a prior blog (Winter Falls Prevention – Part 1), I discussed four tips that can be used to help with Fall Prevention. In this piece I aim to share a few more tips to help.
#1 – Work on your balance and #2 – Work on your strength
Being able to maintain balance when walking, navigating around objects, standing on one leg at a time, and when multitasking are all critical to preventing falls.
Having strong legs can help with balance. As an added bonus proper strength training can also improve your bone density, muscle mass and ability to get off the ground – so if you do have a fall you have a lower likelihood of running into serious problems.
#3 and #4 – Maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar
Big fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar, particularly drops, can also make you more likely to fall. Working with a Kinesiologist or Physiotherapist for exercise guidance and working with a Dietitian or Naturopath to improve your nutrition can go a long way to help with this.
#5 – Keeping a more upright posture
Posture can play a role in fall prevention as having a more slouched posture can put your body more forward and put you at more risk of falls. Again our Physiotherapists and Kinesiologists as well as our Chiropractors can help with this.
This concludes my series on Falls Prevention. I hope these tips help you navigate the winter season and many more.
If you have any questions or would like to explore further, please book a free, no-charge online appointment. Eric Bowman is a physiotherapist in Waterloo.
