Older Adults Suffering Brain Injuries From Falls
Older adults are incurring traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from accidental falls, and 50% of unintentional fall deaths are related to TBIs, according to a June report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Most people think older adults may only break their hip when they fall, but our research shows that traumatic brain injuries can also be a serious consequence,” said Ileana Arias, PhD, director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “These injuries can cause long-term problems and affect how someone thinks or functions. They can also impact a person’s emotional well-being.”
The findings highlight the importance of fall prevention programs for older adults. A large and growing body of research supports the benefit of mind-body movement programs, such as tai chi and qigong, for preventing falls and fall-related injuries in older adults.
For more information, go to www.cdc.gov/injury.
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
