September is National Falls Prevention Month: Adding stretching & strengthening exercises to a dail

THE VILLAGES, Fla. - Sept. 17, 2020 - PRLog -- September is National Falls Prevention Month: Adding stretching and strengthening exercises to a daily routine can help reduce the staggering statistics regarding fall injuries.

Did You Know: Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall; falls account for 25% of all hospital admissions, and 40% of all nursing home admissions; among those who are admitted to a nursing home, nearly half will never return to independent living; and falling once doubles a person's chances of falling again, according to Age Safe America.

The good news is falls are preventable and improving posture goes a long way toward this goal. In fact, it takes just a few minutes each day to help prevent future falls, as well as unnecessary pain and discomfort, by improving posture.

Dr. Jennifer Paul serves as Etheredge Chiropractic's Certified Posture Exercise Professional (CPEP).  The CPEP program was created by Dr. Steven Weiniger, and serves as health professionals' clinical standard for posture rehabilitation and improvement protocols in the United States, and around the world.

During the CPEP program, patients meet with Dr. Paul once a week for seven weeks. At these visits, patients are shown posture strengthening exercises. When these exercises are incorporated into daily routine, they have a dramatic effect on balance, alignment, and symmetry of motion, in turn helping to prevent falls and injury.

Most people who participate in the program and make the exercises part of their lifestyle, also report relief from neck pain and back pain.

In addition to incorporating strengthening and balance exercises into your routine, the CDC and National Fire Protection Association offer these tips for preventing falls:

- Talk to your doctor and review your medications.
- Have your eyes checked annually to update glasses.
- Make your home safer by installing grab bars.
- Wear sturdy, non-skid shoes.
- Take your time when getting out of chairs. Stand slowly and get your balance before you walk.
- Clear stairs and walkways, indoors and out, freeing them of clutter and other obstacles.
- Prevent slipping by using non-slip mats in the bathtub and the shower and install grab bars.
- Safeguard uneven surfaces by using non-skid backings on rugs.
- Tread carefully. Take your time.
- Wear sturdy, well-fitted, low-heeled shoes with non-slip soles.

If you would like more information about stretching and strengthening exercises that help improve posture and prevent falls, contact Dr. Jennifer Paul at (352) 750-1200. You can also download a Fall Prevention Checklist from The Villages Public Safety Department, here (https://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/PDFView.aspx?path=/de...). Learn more at https://www.ECDoctors.com