By Kelly A. Shue
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “The number of older persons with fall-induced injuries is increasing at a rate that cannot be explained by demographic changes alone, and strong preventative measures should be adopted to control the increasing burden of these injuries.”
With all the things we do to keep ourselves safe, from wearing a seatbelt to locking our doors at night,it may be hard to believe that simply maintaining or strengthening our sense of balance may be the easiest way to live a longer, safer life.
To that end, Riderwood offers professionally led balance training classes designed to prevent falls while maintaining strength and balance. While you may never walk a circus tightrope, you will maintain your independence longer.
Beating the odds
The need for balance classes like those offered at Riderwood should not be overstated. In a study conducted by M.E. Tinetti and M. Speechley, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, “Every year, one-third to one-half of the American population age 65 and over experience falls, with half doing so repeatedly. These falls are the leading cause of injury in older adults and the leading cause of accidental death in those over age 85.”
A French study conducted at the Universite Henri Poincare found that, “Balance disorders increase with aging and raise the risk of accidental falls …. However, the practice of physical and sporting activities efficiently counteracts these age related disorders, reducing the risk of falling significantly.”