“For a just man falleth seven times, andriseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Proverbs 24:16).
“Two are better than one; because they havea good reward for their labour. For if they fall,the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
A fracture (broken bone) is one of the most common causes of disability, especially in thoseover fifty. We think fractures are simple, but theolder we get, the more time and effort it takes to overcome. After age forty, it can take up to a year after a simple fracture before the arm or leg can be used as normal.
The most severe risk is a broken hip. After the age ofseventy-five, the risk of dyingwithin the next two years is 50%! This means a broken hip can take up to a year to recover. Not only that, your risk of death from all causes is one out of two. The most common reason for fractures in people is a fall. In order to prevent falls, we may need to reorganize our lives. Knowing falls may cost us severely, it is important that we live more carefully.
Physical activity is good for us—not just in terms of staying in shape but also in terms of increasing our balance. The more active we are, the more our balance is supported. This includes regular exercise such as simple walking, cycling, swimming, etc. Arms and legs that are stronger may help us have better balance. Exercises which increase the strength of our core muscles can also prevent falls. Abdomen and back muscles are probably the most important for helping our steadiness. Of the extremity muscles, thighs tend to be good for helping us get around and get out of chairs.