Common Injuries For Seniors And How To Prevent & Treat Them

As people age, it can be much easier to pick up an injury, and there are a few common ailments that people find as they age. These can be frustrating injuries as they can stop people from leading an independent lifestyle. Fortunately, many of these injuries can be treated, which should enable an individual to regain their independence. Therefore, it is helpful to know what these common injuries are, how they can be avoided and how they should be treated if they are sustained. This could stop the injury from happening in the first place or ensure that you get back on your feet before too long.

• Falls

Falls are, by far, the most common cause of injury among the elderly. These can be serious, upsetting and lead to a loss of confidence. As a result of falls, people can suffer fractures, head trauma, sprains, and lacerations. Falls are particularly common if there is a health-related matter, but aging adults could be more susceptible to falls due to poor visibility, lack of balance, deteriorating muscles or medication, for example.

It can be hard to prevent a fall but regular exercise to improve balance and strength, reducing trips hazards, taking extra care while walking and making adjustments in the home should help.

• Back Pain

Back pain is a common injury among many young people, as well as aging adults. For seniors, this often stems from poor posture and deteriorating muscles which can create a wide range of issues. You can prevent back pain in aging adults with exercises and stretches designed to strengthen the core and back muscles and by avoiding heavy lifting. It can be treated with low impact exercise, painkillers, andhot/cold compression. It is worth seeing a doctor if the pain interferes with daily life or gets worse over time.

• Knee Pain

Active seniors can easily suffer knee injuries when they try to continue the same level of activity as they begin to age. Knee pain can be frustrating as it can make walking next to impossible, but it can be prevented through reducing the intensity or duration of activity, reducing weight, low-impact exercise, and high-quality footwear. If knee pain is recurring or persistent, you should seek treatment from a specialist and use a combination of rest, stretching and physical therapy.

• Arthritis

Arthritis causes pain and inflammation and can occur in any of the joints which can make a wide range of daily tasks a challenge. Unfortunately, there is no cure for arthritis, but treatment with medication and surgery (in severe cases) can be effective. The condition can also be slowed with physiotherapy and regular exercise.

It can be much easier to suffer an injury when you begin to age. These injuries can be severe and interfere with an individual’s quality of life, so it is important to understand what these injuries are, how they can be prevented, and what can be done in terms of treatment. In many cases, it will involve being extra careful and making slight alterations to exercise and other habits while making sure that you still lead an active and healthy lifestyle.