Each yr, tens of millions of elderly people about 65 years or older fall however lower than half report back to a physician or go to the hospital but you will need to observe that falling as soon as, doubles the possibilities of falling once more. In India, practically 1.5 to 2 million older individuals undergo accidents attributable to falls every year and practically 1 million succumb to death attributable to falls.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Brahmaraju TJ, Consultant Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgeon at SPARSH Hospital, shared, “Older people fall mainly due to slipping, tripping or stumbling. Predisposing factors are poor vision, vertigo, imbalance, fear of fall, osteoarthritis of knee pain, hearing impairment and depression. The risk of fall is more in female elderly population.”
Dr Nataraj HM, HOD Orthopedics, Robotic Joint Replacement and Sports Surgeon at Belenus Champion Hospital in Sarjapur, revealed, “Falls are frequently observed among individuals who are older, particularly those who are 65 years of age or older. Ageing brings about physical changes that can impact one's balance and mobility.”
Dr Brahmaraju TJ highlighted, “Fall is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Falls can lead to bony injuries like fracture of hip, spine, wrist, ankle or traumatic brain injuries (head injuries), which need hospitalisation and in most cases surgical intervention which adds to the health cost. Many people who fall and do not get any major injuries but develop fear of fall again. This leads to reduction of their mobility, less social interaction and less sense of well being which leads to poor quality of life.”
Dr Nataraj HM opined, “Older adults often experience a decline in muscle and bone mass, which can result in weakness and an increased susceptibility to injury. This can be improved with regular exercises to improve muscle mass and strength. Additionally, their reflexes and reaction times tend to slow down. Declining vision and hearing abilities can impair their capacity to detect hazards and navigate their surroundings safely. Adding visual and hearing aids helps to improve this. Specific medical conditions become more prevalent with age and can affect stability. Arthritis causes stiff and painful joints, limiting one's range of motion and flexibility leading to falls, this can be addressed by robotic knee replacement surgery to improve the mobility and balance while walking.”
He added, “Osteoporosis weakens bones, making them more prone to fractures resulting from falls. Osteoporosis can be improved by calcium supplements and a healthy diet. While falls are prevalent among older adults, implementing certain lifestyle changes, making modifications to the home environment, and engaging in balance exercises can help mitigate the risk of falling and promote independent living for as long as possible.”
According to Dr Brahmaraju TJ, danger analysis and prevention measures in aged people goes a great distance in avoiding falls at dwelling and enhancing the standard of life. He advised:
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