It's Not Just Ice: 10 Tips to Avoid a Bad Fall

Sherry Martin recovering from a fall — Every 13 seconds an older person falls in the U.S. and is rushed to an emergency department for treatment. Sherry Martin, of Columbus, Ohio, was one of them. After falling 53 times in her apartment building last year, Martin was referred to a group of specialists at the fall prevention clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

(Image credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)

Dr. Joe Rosenthal, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, contributed this column to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Nationally in 2012, 2.4 million non-fatal falls among older adults were treated in emergency rooms and more than 722,000 of these patients were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Not surprisingly, as the U.S. population ages, both the number of falls and the costs to treat fall injuries are likely to increase. In 2012, the direct medical costs of falls among older adults, adjusted for inflation, were more than $30 billion, the CDC reports.

Once patients know why they're falling, we help them undergo specific therapy to help them stop. Some of our patients are referred to outpatient physical therapy for exercises to strengthen certain muscles, increase their range of motion and improve their gait and endurance to lessen the risk of falls. For others, we may inspect their home and encourage them to make changes to create a safer and risk-free environment.

Remove clutter to create clear paths for walking through the home;
Remove throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep rugs from slipping;
Install handrails and lights on all staircases;
Install grab bars inside and outside the shower and next to the toilet;
Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors;
Avoid using step stools or ladders to reach items on high shelves;
Extend the chain on ceiling fans to make them easily reachable;
Avoid walking on icy surfaces outside;
Get up slowly and turn on a light before walking across the room;
Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers;

Charles Morrow-Jones works with ReNea Owens, a physical therapist at the fall prevention clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Like nearly 2 and a half million other patients, Morrow-Jones was injured after losing his balance and falling down. The rate of injuries due to falls has nearly doubled in the last decade in older people, prompting specialists at Ohio State to open this innovative clinic.

It may also be helpful for patients to ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines — both prescription and over-the-counter — to identify those that may cause side effects like dizziness or drowsiness. It's also crucial to examine medication that could lower blood pressure too much, as that could also cause a fall. I recommend an annual vision checkup by an eye doctor to lessen fall risk.