“Unintentional falls are a common occurrence among older adults, affecting approximately 30% of persons aged >65 years each year.” (1)
In the US, in 2003, a total of 13,700 persons aged >65 years died from falls, and 1.8 million were treated in emergency departments (EDs) for nonfatal injuries from falls.
Why do seniors fall? 
Falls can happen for a lot of reasons. Here are some of the more significant reasons (2)
- Muscle weakness and asymmetry, particularly in the ankles and hips.
- Too many medications
- Unsafe home environment
- Decreased sensitivity of the body and joint positions.
- Vision issues
Perhaps surprisingly, inner ear issues were not as big an issue as is frequently thought.
How to Prevent Falls? 
- Get tested for muscle imbalances and do corrective exercises.
- Do you really need that many medications? Talk to a doctor about cutting back.
- Make sure your home has clear walkways, inside and out.
- Move more often, take Tai Chi, yoga and balance development classes.
- Get your essential nutrient status checked and take care of any deficiencies.
- Change your multi-focal glasses for single focus lenses.
Am I at risk? Get tested!
There are different ways to test for susceptibility to falls available through the Diagnosis Foundation. These include:
- Fall Assessments – These include a wide range of quick and easy physical and written questionnaires. Checking your fall history, evaluating how well you rise from a chair, timing how quickly you can maneuver through a series of standing, turning and walking activities.
- Computerized Movement Imaging (CMI) – A computer analysis is done of you performing a few specific maneuvers.
- Stability Testing – A sensitive piece of technology measures how much you ‘wobble’ while doing a series of activities with your eyes open and closed.
- Muscle Imbalance Testing – Muscles commonly involved in fall prevention and measured for strength and symmetry.
Contact The Diagnosis Foundation
The DxF is focused on improving human safety, health and performance by promoting diagnosis which seeks underlying causes using objective and holistic methods. We do this through diagnostic programs of: testing, education and R&D which will ultimately result in a new system of human care.
As part of our testing program, you can contact the DxF so that we can put you in touch with a physician in the Suffolk or Nassau County, NY region who is certified to perform a Fall Prevention Exam using Muscle Imbalance Testing, Force Plate Stability Testing & Computerized Movement Imaging. Your doctor will then prescribe and if appropriate, supervise a nutrition or exercise program to decrease your fall risk. These tests may be performed at our state of the art headquarters in Ronkonkoma, NY on Veterans Highway near Islip McArthur Airport. For additional information or to schedule an exam, contact: Info@DxFoundation.org
1 – Hausdorff et.al. Gait variability and fall risk in community-living older adults, Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1050–6.
2 – Gillespie et.al. Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Sep
This article is not intended to offer a diagnosis or medical advice. It is offered strictly for educational purposes. Please consult members of your health care team directly to explore these or any other health care concepts.
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