Falls are the leading cause of injuries and death among American seniors. In fact, falls send senior adults across the United States to the emergency room every 11 seconds on average. Falls can lead to cuts, bruises, broken bones, and knee, neck, and head injuries.
After a slip and fall accident, seniors often become wary of walking too far and are afraid to trust their own judgment or balance. Three-quarters of seniors injured in falls fear falling again. Half restrict their activities to prevent another fall. A lack of mobility reduces a person’s strength and endurance, making them more likely to fall again. The following are tips to help older adults recover from a fall and regain the confidence to be active again.
- Get enough rest: Although physical motion is important after a slip and fall accident, it is also just important to give your body enough time to rest and heal from injuries. This is especially true for back injuries. Your doctor or physical therapist can advise you on when to resume.
- Start off slow with exercise: To rebuild injured muscle groups, start with non-strenuous exercises recommended by your physical therapist or doctor. Take a cautious approach and do not overuse or overstretch muscle groups.
- Work with a physical therapist: Physical therapists are trained to help people recover from injuries caused by falls and other accidents. Over time, they can help bring your injured areas back to their pre-fall condition. They can also give you a stretching and exercise regimen to do at home.
- Consider chiropractic care: Chiropractic care is a natural way of manipulating areas of the spine to realign them, decrease pain, increase mobility, and promote healing. Once considered an alternative method of treatment, chiropractic care is widely-accepted as highly-effective for recovery from injuries.
Regaining Confidence After a Slip and Fall Accident
There are many simple steps seniors can take during their recovery to rebuild their confidence and avoid future falls. Slip and fall hazards like cords, throw rugs, and other items should be stored off the floor. The bathroom is one of the most familiar places in the home for slip and fall accidents. Grab-bars for showers and baths and non-skid mats can help prevent falls on slippery floors. Good lighting is also important inside the home and outside, especially near stairways and walking paths.
After a slip and fall accident, it is crucial for injured seniors to focus on their physical recovery. Serious injuries also have financial implications. The cost of hospitalization, surgery, and other medical care can be daunting for older adults on a fixed income.
Pittsburgh Slip and Fall Lawyers at AlpernSchubert P.C. Help Injured Victims Recover Needed Compensation
Pittsburgh slip and fall lawyers at the law offices of AlpernSchubert P.C. handle complex personal injury claims so injured victims can focus on their recovery. To schedule a free case evaluation, call 412-765-1888 or contact us online today. Conveniently located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout western Pennsylvania, including those in Allegheny County, Lawrence County, and Washington County.