Falling Gracefully
Posted: November 29, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 1 Comment
As a person who still has both my parents I am more and more aware of people older than they are who go down hill quickly after a fall. Tonight at Carter’s basketball game she fell and hit her head on the floor and was out of the game with a concussion. I am quickly coming to appreciate that we need to learn to fall better than we do now.
Balance and core strength are important to helping keep us upright, but inevitably we all fall. If we practiced falling in a way where we would not get hurt as badly we would probably be better off. As kids we fall all the time, especially when we are just learning to walk. We roll over and get up and keep going. As young adults if we fall we usually get up and laugh as a guard against the embarrassment of going down, even when we really want to cry.
My friends Michelle and Dave’s son Nick plays on the boys varsity basketball team and I have watched him fall for years. He has an elegant way of going down and keeping his head up, that often is rewarded with a free throw. I suspect that well practiced falling technique will serve him well in old age.
Tonight I am hoping that Carter’s head hurt is mild and that she can resume activity tomorrow, but only time will tell. I want her to be better at falling, but I also don’t want to get hurt practicing falling. I certainly don’t want my parents to fall. I know that practicing is out of the question for them. I think I am going to aak my trainer if we can practice falling, just not until after the first of the year when I’m not so busy.
Less Dana, More Good 
Dana: Great observation on the falling and our most elderly citizens. First, I hope Carter is OK. I am sure you will have a better sense of this today. I recently took a tumble down my parent’s quite steep stairs, and fractured my shoulder and a couple of ribs. I am on the mend now. (Just wore a sling; then have physical therapy.) But, my fall also reminded me of the dangers of falling. If it is that bad for me at my age, can’t imagine what will happen if one of my parents’ falls. I have been told falls is the leading cause of death, for our most elderly citizens. Some things people can do to help with his are 1) install proper lighting (so stairs are clearly lit); wear rubber-soled shoes (even inside); install bars and rails, where needed; and 4) at a certain age, consider a device such as “Lifeline” if the person is at home, alone, for extended periods of time. OR, if there is another family member at home, who may not hear their loved-one fall. (Lifeline may be for people who have a history of falling or are most likely to fall.) These are just my own ideas. I did not read up on it or consult anyone. Just thoughts after living with my parents. It’s certainly better to start making some of these changes (lighting for example) now when you are fine, rather than wait until it is more difficult to handle these tasks. Ellen