Good Health
By Cammy Dennis [cammy@ocalasgoodlife.com]
Autumn Leaves Fall, But You Don’t Have To
Falls are not a normal part of the aging process and can be prevented.
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OCALA’S GOOD LIFE retirement redefined
Get support: Talk with your healthcare provider and enlist the help of family, friends, and qualified professionals. Share your history and any fear you have with falling. The fear of falling itself is a risk factor. Older adults that are fearful of falling will likely reduce physical activity to avoid a fall. However, a decrease in activity also results in a decrease in muscle and strength. Allowing the fear of falling to reduce activity leads to a downward spiral of deconditioning and increased fall risk. Guidance from your healthcare provider, along with the right exercise program, can be life-changing. “I am a two-time cancer survivor and my doctor told me that my ability to recover so well was due to being fit and physically active,” says Sumi Bridges, 84, a resident of On Top of the World. “In addition to overcoming cancer, I had a bad fall and tripped on an uneven surface. Many of my peers thought that my dance aerobics days were over, but I proved them wrong!” Review medications: Medication side effects and drug interactions can increase your fall risk. One of the greatest gifts that exercise provides is the ability to reduce the need for medication. In many instances, regular physical activity coupled with a healthy diet can reduce need for blood sugar and blood pressure medications. Exercise is medicine! Get your vision checked: Strength is a critical factor for balance, and so is sensory acuity. Vision is your brain’s “go to” for spatial awareness, so it’s very important to light up your living space and keep eyeglass prescriptions current. Manage environmental risk factors: Most falls occur in the home. The upside here is that we can control our personal space by eliminating slip-and-trip hazards. Keep your home clutter-free, install handrails where needed, wear supportive shoes, and make sure you have adequate lighting, especially at night. Cammy Dennis is the fitness director for On Top of the World communities and The Ranch Fitness Center & Spa. She lives the lifestyle she promotes and has trained for triathlons throughout the state, aerobics while living in Tokyo, and various weightlifting events.
Photo: John Jernigan
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welcome, seasonal change beckons as autumn draws near. The National Council on Aging cleverly uses the start of the fall season—this year Tuesday, September 22—to bring attention and awareness to “fall” risk reduction. At the core of this initiative is a very important message: Falls are not a normal part of the aging process and can be prevented. Here are five things you can do to reduce your risk of falling. Keep moving: Staying active is essential to optimal aging and staying fall-free. Regular physical activity preserves muscle, strength, and power. This provides you with the ability to maintain good posture, gait function, and the ability to react quickly to environmental changes. The leading cause of falls is tripping. Very often, this is due to poor gait mechanics. The loss of strength in our legs results in a shuffling of the feet, which greatly increases the likelihood of a trip and fall. The good news is that you can regain muscle mass and strength at any age. “Exercise has supported my ability to travel and keep up with my grandchildren,” offers Margaret Dobbins, a regular participant in our cardio and strengthtraining classes. “On a trip to Italy last year, we had to venture down cobblestone streets and manage steep, narrow staircases. If it was not for my exercise, I would not have trusted my ability to keep up.”
