Don't fall this Fall!

September 22 is the first day of fall and time to remind ourselves of the importance of fall prevention. Falls are pretty common – between 30% and 40% of adults over age 65 fall each year. In 2010, the National Center for Injury Prevention at the CDC reported that 9,146,026 people were treated in emergency rooms for unintentional falls with adults over age 75 having the highest rate of falls.

There is a concerted effort nationwide to reduce falls, especially among older adults. The National Council on Aging is leading coalitions around the country to raise awareness. This year’s theme is Standing Together to Prevent Falls and they are calling on professionals, older adults, caregivers, and families to work together to raise awareness and prevent falls in the older adult population. Find out if a coalition in your state has an event planned.

If you are in Minneapolis October 13, join American Bone Health in Walk Tall for Life® a 2.6K walk and exercise clinic to raise awareness about bone health.

Get some exercise, work on balance and stay strong.

Warmly,

USPSTF recommends exercise and vitamin D to prevent falls

In June 2012, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated their 1996 recommendations for preventing falls in adults over age 65. They found that recent evidence supports the use of exercise or physical therapy and vitamin D supplementation in older adults who are at risk for falls.

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Why preventing falls prevents fractures

The National Osteoporosis Council of the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors developed a great handout to explain the connection between falls and fractures. Download this flyer and send it to your friends and family.

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CDC’s Falls Prevention Activity

Falls in the US are such a big problem that the CDC has devoted significant resources to the issue. They are working on a number of fronts to identify evidence that supports a variety of approaches to fall prevention.

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