Slow walking, trembling limbs, and fatigue are all symptoms that come from Parkinson’s disease. These before mentioned symptoms also greatly increase the likelihood of falling. There are 1.8 million ER visits and 16,000 deaths due to falls. If you’ve recently had a fall you are very likely to have another fall in the next year. Because accidents involving falls have increased doctors have been given the guideline to screen for fall risk. The new guideline is published in the Feb. 5th issue of Neurology.
When your health is beginning to become frail it is important that you protect yourself against falls. If you fall and you limit your mobility and area to move around your health could greatly be affected. Falls could also lead to hip fractures, head injury, and in some cases death.
It’s very important to do everything possible to decrease the risk of falling. Canes, walkers, and wheelchairs were all designed to help people get around and to decrease the risk of becoming injured. Another important thing to do is to place rails where rails can help such as walkways, stairs, showers, near the toilet and other places that could be awkward with increased movement.
