COMMON FALLS TABLE

Causes of Some Common Falls

Tripping, shuffling:

How to Prevent Them

Improve ankle and foot agility. Pick your feet up. Strengthen your legs. Become clutter free. Learn to walk looking straight ahead instead of down.
Going too fast:

Dizziness from medication:
Slow down!

Have your pharmacist or doctor review your medications every 6 months. Report dizziness to your doctor so your dosage can be adjusted.
Dizziness turning your head:
Turn your head slowly. Focus your eyes as you go.
Taking your eyes off of where you are going when walking:
Stop walking if you need to turn your attention away from where you are going. For instance, when someone calls to you.
Disorientation from looking up:
Do not look up unless you are holding onto something, especially in the closet. Use a grabber. Do not use top shelves.
Disorientation from bending over:
Pick things up without tilting your head. Focus your eyes.
Lightheadedness standing or sitting up:
Change position slowly. Remain still for several minutes before moving.
Incorrect walker use: not using the brakes properly:
Lock your brakes before sitting down and before standing up.
Leaving your walker by the side of the room or not using it during the night for bathroom visits:
Use your walker to your seat. Let someone else move it. Have a hand hold from the bed to the bathroom.
Drop attack (legs or feet collapsing out from under you):
Strengthen leg joint stabilizer muscles. Strengthen the legs. Warm up the nervous system.

What to do if you feel dizzy, unsteady, light headed or disoriented:

  1. Focus your eyes in the direction you are facing.
  2. Pull your abdominals in.
  3. Stop moving and remain still till you regain your orientation.
  4. Restrain head motion.
  5. If you are moving, pick your feet up.
  6. Step to the side to regain your balance.

If you are concerned about having a fall the very best thing you can do is to improve your balance. One of the optimal ways to do this is to take balance classes. Building Better Balance brings balance classes into your living room. The DVD series offers 4 hour long exercise classes with ample instruction and fall prevention information. Classes are divided into 10 minute segments to be taken any time you like.