Description
A fear of falling may cause people to avoid stairs, exercise and other daily activities. But that fear can also increase the risk of a fall.
A national survey of 1,007 U.S. adults from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found that 63% do not recognize anxiety about falling as a risk. The survey also found that 60% do not recognize hearing loss as a risk and 74% do not recognize that an urgent need to use the bathroom can increase the chance of falling.
"When you’re not confident, you may avoid activities because you’re afraid you’re going to fall," said Michelle Easley, a board-certified nurse practitioner at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s Fall Prevention Clinic. “That fear of falling is actually one of the biggest risks of falling."
Changes in hearing can affect balance. An urgent need to use the bathroom can also cause people to move too quickly or leave behind a cane, walker or other device they use for support.
#FallPrevention #GeriatricMedicine
More about Ohio State's Fall Prevention Clinic and how to reduce risk of falling: https://go.osu.edu/DRzN
More about this survey: https://go.osu.edu/DR38
Access a transcript of this video: https://go.osu.edu/DR3g