Day 209-I've fallen, and I can't get up!

Hip Fractures. 

Facts to ponder (from the Center for Disease Control):

• In 2007, there were 281,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures among people age 65 and older.
• Over 90% of hip fractures are caused by falling, most often by falling sideways onto the hip.
• A large proportion of fall deaths are due to complications following a hip fracture. One out of five hip fracture patients dies within a year of their injury.
• Treatment typically includes surgery and hospitalization, usually for about one week, and is frequently followed by admission to a nursing home and extensive rehabilitation.
• Up to one in four adults who lived independently before their hip fracture  remains in a nursing home for at least a year after their injury. 

And from Aligned and Well, who reviewed the list of 11 factors that contribute to hip fractures, the top 4 factors are:

• Muscle weakness
• Previous fall or fear of falling
• Gait deficit
• Balance deficit

Being OLD is 11th on the list! So, your hip doesn't break because you're old! It's because you have all these other factors--factors YOU can change.  You can even fend off osteoporosis. Remember Day 84 & Day 85? Re-read them if you need re-education and re-enlightenment.

You know it's wrong to laugh at this photo, right? Stop it.

Aren't you empowered now? Get out and walk in your neutral-heel shoes right now, just to celebrate the wonders of using your body all proper-like!

May Your Bones be Best, 
Dani