By Alice Roberts
Falls can be serious at any age, and breaking bones after a fall becomes more likely as a person ages.
A simple fall can change your life. I have experienced that myself. After my tibial plateau fracture (kneecap) of the right leg, it never regained its full mobility.
Suffering from osteoporosis, a minor fall can become a major injury. If you are a sufferer of osteoporosis try to make your home more “fall safe.”
A few tips for fall safety include wearing shoes or slippers with rubber soles. Wearing only socks can cause you to slip on a slick floor. Tack down carpets and throw rugs. Do not attempt to walk in the dark without some type of light.
The force of a fall (how a person lands) plays a major role on determining whether a person will fracture or not. The greater the distance of the hip bone to the floor, the greater the risk of fracturing a hip. The angle at which a person falls is also important. Falling sideways or straight down is more risky than falling backwards.