Dance, Dance, Dance. It May Help Prevent Falls

Older adults who engaged in ballroom dancing, folk dancing and other dance styles were less likely to fall than those who walked or did other exercises.

 Falls Can Kill You. Here’s How to Minimize the Risk.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Every 19 minutes in this country, an older person dies from a fall.

 Simple Ways To Prevent Falls In Older Adults

You can do so many things. First of all, I tell everybody you've got to do some balance training. Tai chi is probably the best exercise to prevent falls, but whatever works for you. And, interestingly, just walking does not reduce your risk for falling.

 The Best Exercises to Prevent Falls

Activities that required standing up rather than sitting, such as tai chi, were the most effective.

Deadly Falls in Older Americans Are Rising. Here’s How to Prevent Them.

The rate of deaths after falls is rising for people over 75, a new study shows. But falls are avoidable for most seniors. We have some tips.

Explainer: why does our balance get worse as we grow older?

All of us have taken a tumble at some point in our lives. But as we grow older, the risks associated with falling over become greater: we lose physical strength and bone density, our sense of balance deteriorates and we take longer to recover from a fall. Alarmingly, this process begins around the age of 25. The reasons for this are varied and complex, but by understanding them better, we can find ways to mitigate the effects of old age.

Facing Up To Falls

This RoSPA video highlights easy tips to prevent an elderly relative, friend, neighbour or even your gran from falling over at home.

Fall Safety: Take Steps to Remain Independent Longer

Falls also are the leading cause of injury-related death for adults age 65 and older, according to Injury Facts 2016, the statistical report on unintentional injuries created by the National Safety Council. This is not surprising considering falls are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injury.

Falling Is Dangerous for the Elderly—and Often Preventable

Falls can be reduced with balance training, physical therapy and safer homes.

How Tai Chi Can Help Conquer Fear of Falling as We Age

Researchers explore the power of exercise to help seniors overcome apprehension and stay active.

How to break a fall, not a hip

When an elderly person falls, the result can be calamitous: hip fractures are common and serious. But help may be at hand. American researchers have designed a kinder, gentler flooring which is firm enough for people to walk on but buckles if they fall, absorbing the shock of impact.

Moving Together To Reduce The Risk Of Falls

Carlucci, a former Alvin Ailey dance student who performed with Broadway’s legendary choreographer Bob Fosse (Chicago, Cabaret), has spent more than 20 years as a fitness and wellness expert teaching movement and body strengthening. Her fall prevention-designed class technique was created primarily to help those over 50 focus on proper alignment, posture and what she calls “the joy of movement.”

Prototype exoskeleton helps the elderly keep their balance

Why have a walker when you could have an exosuit?

Try tai chi to improve balance, avoid falls

Compared to the pumping intensity of spin or Zumba, a tai chi class looks like it’s being performed in slow motion. Watching the gentle, graceful movements of this ancient Chinese practice, it’s hard to imagine that tai chi can burn off a single calorie or strengthen muscles. But this exercise program is far more dynamic than it looks.

Virtual Reality Can Help Stop Old People Falling Over

A trial found that adding a VR component to treadmill training resulted in 42 percent fewer falls.

Why Tai Chi Makes Sense for the Elderly

A new study suggests Tai Chi may provide the benefits of strength training without the drawbacks for the heart.

Falls, Injuries and Anxiety: Breaking a Vicious Cycle

Living with the fear of falling also likely increases feelings of anxiety, which could lead a physician to prescribe anti-anxiety medication, such as Xanax. Xanax, along with other benzodiazepines, has been the focus of recent studies that have demonstrated that these types of drugs cause higher risks of falls and dementia.