On National Injury Prevention Day; Get support to help reduce deadly falls
OTTAWA, UN, June 28, 2022 / CNW / – Injury can occur anywhere, at home, at work or while practicing your favorite sport. On National Injury Prevention Day, on July 5, the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance wants to help raise awareness of the devastating effects of predictable and preventable injuries, especially among the elderly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a worrying situation, as the number of fall-related hospitalizations of older people has increased by 47%, and the death rate due to falls has also increased over the last ten years1. Although rarely in the headlines, falls among the elderly have caused twice as many deaths as motor vehicle accidents (4,849 vs. 1,939) 2.
RELATED GRASS AMONG SENIORS
According to the World Health Organization, about one third of older people fall each year1. This results in 85% of injury-related hospitalizations, 95% of all femoral fractures, and 61% of injury deaths in older Canadians3. Among this group, women, those aged 80 or over, and the elderly who live alone or have low incomes are more at risk when it comes to falls. Falls of the same level (slipping, tripping or tripping), falls with furniture and falls on stairs are the first three types of falls that lead to serious injuries and death among the elderly.
PREVENTION IS KEY
Falls among the elderly are preventable; however, their multifactorial nature means that tackling this growing public health problem is a shared responsibility. Progress in preventing falls and the resulting injuries requires continued multisectoral cooperation, including governments, health care providers, NGOs, care associations and services, and Canadians themselves.
“In the last two years, many older people have been locked up in their homes and have had a limited chance of being physically active.explains Angeli Carter, president of the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance. We must now ensure that they can return to a more active lifestyle as soon as possible if we want to prevent an increase in falls in the coming years, a number that is already too high. Through personalized safe physical activities that challenge balance, kinesiologists, as experts in human movement, can help older people strengthen their hips and legs to prevent falls. In addition, the kinesiologist can also provide information on the effects of dehydration, low blood sugar and medical conditions that can cause someone to fall.“
“In addition to regular exercise, the environment in which people live is also key to preventing falls, as half of the falls leading to hospitalization occur in the household1, continues Mrs. Carter. That’s why it’s important to evaluate someone’s home for the dangers of falling and help them make it safer. Health professionals such as a kinesiologist can assess the risk of falling into someone’s home and help make changes to ensure safety.“
QUICK FACTS 3
- Every day, 48 Canadians die and 634 are hospitalized due to falls, making it the leading cause of death from injuries, hospitalizations, emergency room visits and injuries in Canada.
- An average of 13 adults die each day in Canada, and 259 are hospitalized after a fall. In 2018, this led to 4,849 deaths, 94,529 hospitalizations, 424,609 emergency department visits and 28,310 injuries.
- 75% of deaths related to injuries are due to unintentional causes, such as falls, car accidents and poisonings.
- Fall-related injuries involving the elderly cost the health care system $ 5.6 billion a year, or $ 15.3 million a day. The total cost of injuries to the Canadian economy is $ 80 million every day ($ 29.4 billion every year).
FALL PREVENTION TIPS
- Do balance exercises and resistance exercises that focus on the upper legs, thighs and core strength (such as OTAGO or SAIL exercises, tai chi, water aerobics, chair yoga, and weight training).
- Safe proof for your home to minimize risks (removing carpets, adding lighting to stairs, installing a sturdy railing, etc.).
- Stay hydrated.
- Maintain a balanced diet.
- Watch your medications, as some may contribute to dizziness or falls
ABOUT THE CANADIAN KINESIOLOGICAL ALLIANCE
Kinesiologists are specialists in human movement who provide scientific advice and treatments for physical activity that improve recovery, health and well-being at all stages of life. They can also help manage and prevent 25 of the most common chronic conditions such as arthritis, back pain, heart failure or stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, lung problems, anxiety, depression, diabetes and obesity. The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) is a non-profit corporation that advocates for and promotes the development of the kinesiology profession in Canada. CKA seeks to be recognized as a unifying voice for the profession of kinesiology in Canada and to have a positive impact on Canadians. At the national level, CKA represents ten Provincial Kinesiology Associations (PKAs), which are members of associations and over 4,400 related kinesiologists. CKA establishes and promotes the standards of the profession throughout Canada.
Find a kinesiologist: www.cka.ca. Consult the COVID-19 – Kinesiology Guidelines for moving forward. Watch videos to better understand how kinesiologists can help. Facebook and Twitter: @CdnKinesiology
SOURCE Canadian Kinesiology Alliance
For more information: To schedule an interview or for more information, contact: Sophie Allard, APR, (888) 523-2783, ext. 771 or [email protected]
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