What are the Risks for Falling and What Causes a Fall?

Factors that increase the risk for falling

• Muscle weakness around the hip joint



• Increased unsteadiness when on the feet



• Intake of more than 3 medications

• Loss of footing: Loss of footing means a loss of contact between a foot and the ground. Footing can be easily lost if people use things for purposes other than what is intended, for example, using a kitchen chair as a ladder or stool.



• Loss of traction: Loss of traction occurs when the surface is wet or slick and a person slips or when the ground is uneven and a person trips.



• Vision problems: Usually, wearing glasses can correct vision problems that develop with age. However, these glasses are often bifocals, which have one level of vision correction at the top of the glasses' lens (for looking far away) and another level at the bottom of the lens (for looking close up). This means that the vision is distorted when looking down at the feet through the bottom of the glasses' lens, making it easy to lose balance and fall. Also, for many older people, glasses cannot fix their vision changes, so they cannot see clearly and their chance of falling is increased.



• Loss of balance or balance problems can cause falls.



• Diseases that impair mental or physical functions: Certain diseases affect circulation, sensation, mobility, or mental alertness. These diseases can increase the risk of falling.



• Certain medications (such as sedatives): Older people often have medical conditions that require taking several medications. People who take certain medications (such as blood pressure pills, heart medicines, diuretics or water pills, or muscle relaxers or tranquilizers) or several types of medications are more likely to fall as a result of drug-related side effects such as dizziness, confusion, disorientation, or slow reflexes.



• Change in reflexes: Reflexes are automatic responses to something in the environment. For example, stumbling to catch one's balance or reaching out an arm to catch the body as one trips are reflexes. Reflexes become slower as one ages, making it harder to regain balance after a sudden body movement.  



• Changes in muscle and fat: The strength and amount of muscle (muscle mass) changes as a person age. Muscle mass usually decreases because people exercise less and become less active as they age, meaning muscles are weaker. With age, the loss of body fat that cushions and protects bony areas, such as the hips, occurs. This also affects the soles of the feet, which changes the ability to balance.