Exercise helps prevent falls in elderly

Physical activity can impact biological changes positively Travelling with Crohn’s can be made easier!

have an elderly parent or grandparent that you worry about all the time? You think they can’t do exercise alone? Sometimes you worry they will fall?

Older adults often suffer from many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological impairments, mental disorders or musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Older age is also associated with risk of falling. Falling in elderly is common and considered the third greatest cause requiring medical care.

Being able to grow old is a significant step to humanity; however we have to address the issues that rise with it like the increase in falling incidence and frequency. Many studies estimate that 28-35% of elderly who are above 65 years old and older fall each year, the percentage rises to 32-42% for elderly above 70 years old.

The frequency is higher for those who reside in community centers and nursing homes. In today’s article we will talk about one of the factors that leads to falling, the other factors will be further discussed in part two.

Complex

Falling in the elderly population is a complex event that has many contributing factors such as biological, environmental, behavioral and socioeconomic risk factors. There are many biological risk factors like age, gender, chronic diseases, muscle weakness, sensory impairments, balancing and gait disorders.

Bone disease and frailty puts elderly at high risk for fractures and medical complication such as spinal cord injuries. Some of these risk factors can’t be changed, but other risks can be changed and improved to prevent falling in the elderly population.

Research has shown that therapeutic exercise and physical activity can impact the biological changes positively and reduce the incidence of falling.

Exercise can range from individualized practice to group activities with or without equipments. Usually elderly people enjoy group activities and exercises, because then they can socialize with and support each other.

Some of the exercises that elderly can do are stretching exercises, resistance exercises for muscle strength improvement and bone health, and balance exercises which help in reducing the incidence of falling. The intensity and frequency of therapeutic exercises must be adequate enough to make physiological and biological changes.

Some studies recommend exercising three times per week at moderate to slightly high intensity for the improvement of motor functions in the elderly. Exercises must be under the guidance of a health care specialist to ensure safety. Before embarking on something new seek the advice of a medical doctor or a physical therapist, to avoid any unnecessary complications in the future.

In part two we will discuss the rest of the risk factors that may lead to falling in the elderly population.