Having a hip injury in your golden age is a common thing. More than 300,000 seniors are taken to emergency rooms for a hip fracture every year, according to the CDC. But on the positive side, there are ways to reduce the risk of hip fractures in aging adults.
How to Reduce Risk of Hip Fractures in Aging Adults
Review Medications
There are many medications that the elderly use that can affect their balance. The loss of balance can lead to various injuries, and hip fracture is one of them. In order to avoid this from happening, you should change the medications your loved one takes in consultation with a doctor. Some drugs have a lower impact on balance than others. Sometimes even a change of dosage can do the trick.
Increase Bone Strength
As seniors get older, their bones lose density, and this makes it easier for them to get injured. Loss of some bone mass occurs naturally, but seniors should be tested for osteoporosis and other similar conditions every year. When these conditions are spotted in time, the process can be stopped and even reversed.
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Increase Core and Leg Strength
Seniors should continue exercising, even in their late years, as muscle strength is essential if they want to avoid hip fractures or other types of injuries. But seniors shouldn’t overtire themselves. Instead focus should be on low-impact workouts such as swimming, tai chi, yoga, and walking in sand. These exercises are not only good for strengthening the muscles, but they should also increase bone density.
Make Regular Visits to the Eye Doctor
Elderly adults that are over 65 years of age should go to the eye doctor every year, or even twice a year. This way, the doctor can take notice if your senior’s vision starts to deteriorate. The lack of vision is one of the leading causes of hip injuries in the elderly. Also, seniors who wear glasses should check their prescriptions often, as they don’t want to be wearing ones that no longer suit them.
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