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Fall Prevention: Lifestyle Factors and Fall Risk1
Jennifer Hillan2There are many things that may cause you to fall, and you can change several of them. Here are some easy changes you can make to decrease your risk of falling.
Your Shoes
Some types of shoes can make you more likely to fall. Try to avoid:
- Walking barefoot
- Wearing high heels
- Wearing shoes with slippery soles
On the other hand, wearing shoes with high collars (high-tops) may improve your balance.Stay Active!This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself! Not only does regular activity help keep you healthy, it also can reduce your risk of falls. Physical activity can improve your strength, balance, and gait (the way your walk). Walking, swimming, dancing, and gardening are great ways to stay active. Just move your body and have fun!
Limit or Avoid Alcohol
Alcohol makes you less alert. It can also affect your coordination. If you drink alcohol, you may be more likely to fall. It's best to avoid alcohol or limit yourself to one drink per day.
*One drink is 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1½ ounces of liquor.
Review Your Medications
Taking some types of medications may make you more likely to fall. You may also be more likely to fall if you take four or more medications each day. Review your medications with your healthcare provider regularly and if you experiences dizziness or other symptoms.
Footnotes
1. This document is FCS2230, one in a series of the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Publication date: April 2005. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu2. Jennifer Hillan, MSH, RD, LD/N, former ENAFS nutrition educator/trainer, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. Reviewed by Linda B. Bobroff, PhD, RD, LD/N, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
Copyright Information
This document is copyrighted by the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) for the people of the State of Florida. UF/IFAS retains all rights under all conventions, but permits free reproduction by all agents and offices of the Cooperative Extension Service and the people of the State of Florida. Permission is granted to others to use these materials in part or in full for educational purposes, provided that full credit is given to the UF/IFAS, citing the publication, its source, and date of publication.