Walking Aid Dangers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported recently that falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injury in the United States.  See, http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090629.htm .  According to a study published by the CDC in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, from 2001 to 2006, an average of 129 Americans ages 65 and older were treated in emergency departments each day - a total of more than 47,000 each year - for injuries from falls that involved walkers and canes.  For men and women who used walkers or canes, the chances of sustaining a fall increased with age, with the highest injury rates among those 85 and older.  Falls among the elderly can have especially serious consequences, including fractures and injuries to the lower trunk and pelvis.  As stated in the CDC’s Press Release, the study examined six years of emergency department medical records and found that, for older adults who had falls related to walkers or canes, 87 percent of the injuries involved walkers and older women sustained 78 percent of the walker related injuries.  Further, more than half of walker associated fall injuries occurred at home.  In this regard, the CDC Press Release noted that additional studies are needed to better understand fall risk factors for older adults who use walkers or canes, as well as to identify potential design problems and improve design of walkers.  For a full copy of the study, the CDC recommended visiting the website http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119878233/issue .  In addition, more information about the CDC’s fall prevention efforts among older adults can, according to the Press Release, be found by linking to http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/index.html .