New research shows that exercise can balance out those odds in favor of older men and women. When you're a kid, falling down is no big deal. You hop up and mom or dad wipe off the tears and send you on your way. The story is quite different for people over 65. Each year about 30 percent of them have a serious fall and about half of that number fall several times.
Injuries associated with falls can have lingering effects.
About 40 percent of seniors who come in to emergency rooms for treatment after a fall complain of continued pain up for to two months after the fall. That figure should rise as the average age of the population goes up. Exercise, particularly exercise that helps you maintain or improve your balance, can make a difference. The goal of your exercise program is improve your endurance, flexibility, and balance. In some cases behavior modification, medication changes, education, activities and nutritional supplements may be necessary.