imran
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« on: September 30, 2014, 02:32:11 AM » |
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Applies to ALL of us! Please read it carefully, test your strength and see where do you stand ( not falling ) and what is to be done!!Increased Risk of Fall Accident Begins at Age 40One of the main health concerns of elderly people is falling, which is often related to poor balance. In fact, many studies show that people begin to have balance problems starting at the age of 40 years. The older you get, the weaker your physical body and sensory abilities will be, which are all factors in having poor balance.
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imran
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« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2014, 02:33:05 AM » |
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In Japan , more than 7,000 people a year die from falling accidents, which already exceeds the number of traffic accidents. In this article, we'll examine in more details the cause of falling and why you lose balance as you age.## Test Your Balance by Standing on One LegYou can determine how good your balance is by measuring the length of time that you can stand on one leg.
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imran
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« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2014, 02:34:07 AM » |
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The following table shows the average balance time by age group in a study conducted at a Japanese health institute. Average time with eyes open 20-39 years old: 110 seconds 40-49: 64 seconds 50-59: 36 seconds 60-69: 25 seconds Average time with eyes closed 20-39 years old: 12 seconds 40-49: 7 seconds 50-59: 5 seconds 60-69: less than 3 seconds If your balance time is below average, then you'll have higher risk of falls, or slipping and tripping accidents. In the above study, women tend to lose their balance more than men but only by a small margin (1-2%). From this study, it is also evident that there's a sudden significant decrease in the ability to maintain balance among middle-aged people (40 years and above). Please take note that the numbers stated above are only average. There are people who were able to maintain balance much longer, and there are also those who were only able to maintain their balance at much shorter time regardless of age and gender. The reason why they vary is explained further below.## The Soles of Your Feet Have SensorsThe skins all throughout your body have significant amount of tiny pressure sensors or mechanoreceptors. Some areas have few pressure sensors, while other areas have thousands, like on the soles of your feet.The pressure sensors on the foot soles provide information to your brain to help balance your body. As you get older, the sensors will get weaker and your foot sole lose sensitivity. But there are also other factors that can lead to weaker pressure sensors.## Poor Blood Circulation Can Disrupt the Pressure SensorsIn our study, people are almost twice as likely to be in a fall accident caused by poor blood circulation. This can be simulated by soaking your feet into ice cold water for about 3 minutes. Because of the cold temperature, the pressure sensors on the foot sole begin to lose sensitivity.## Pay Attention to Your Forward-Moving FootIf your forward-moving foot hit something, your body will be off-balance causing you to fall or trip. Well, it's a matter of common sense to always have your eyes on path and watch where you are going. Remember the old adages - "Prevention is better than cure","An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", "Look before you leap", etc.? But that's not the only problem. Here are the other two major reasons why you stumble while walking.
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imran
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« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2014, 02:37:07 AM » |
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1. Your forward-moving foot is pointed down.If your foot is pointed down while making a step, then you are more prone to falling. To avoid this, your forefoot or toes should be flexed upwards as shown on the image below.
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imran
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« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2014, 02:39:24 AM » |
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2. You walk like a pendulum. The height of your step can greatly increase your risk of falling. To prevent this, your forward-moving foot must be higher off the ground (at least 5 cm) while the knee is raised high as shown on the image below.Actually, all the mechanoreceptors located throughout your body as well as the soles of your feet are sending information to the brain that include muscle contractions and joint angles.
When this information is not transmitted well to your brain, which happens as you get older, then the movement will get weak or ineffective making it hard for you to maintain your foot higher off the ground.## How to Prevent Yourself from a Fall, Trip, or Slip1. Keep Your House CleanThere are a lot of things in your house that can contribute to clutters that can cause you to trip or fall. Always make sure to put away or store properly all personal belongings and other unnecessary things even if it is only a newspaper, remote control, and laundries scattered on the floor or carpet.
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