Having a fall can happen at any age. We can be clumsy or lose our balance and it can be quite debilitating if it is an especially hard fall. But do the consequences go further than that?
New studies have found that there is a strong link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and falls in over 65s – a link that may not have been truly realised until now. Often when we fall over we feel wary of repeating the same action that caused us to have the accident, but there is evidence to suggest that this can be a display of the symptoms of PTSD.
Research published in the General Hospital Psychiatry journal found symptoms associated with PTSD in 27 out of 100 people over 65 who had been admitted to a hospital after a fall.
Further studies may be conducted to see if a hospital setting is beneficial to settling PTSD symptoms, or detrimental.
Falls are a major cause of injury for over 65s but by no means do they only happen to the weak and the frail – anyone can be at risk as they age.
As mentioned above, falls are extremely common in our generation and is the leading cause of hospitalisation in Australia. Most falls cause scrapes, bruises or breaks to hips and wrists, but the worst can be head, shoulder and back, so it’s important to be vigilant, even if you think it won’t happen to you.
To avoid falls, it’s advised to exercise to improve your balance, strength and flexibility. If you’re frail, you’re more like to come away injured than if you were fit. Also wear proper shoes with slip resistant soles.
Have you had a fall? Did you suffer from stress afterwards? What happened? Tell us your stories.