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News on Falls and other Injuries

An injury is damage or harm caused to the structure or function of the body caused by an outside agent or force.  Different types of injuries include the following:

Amputation: the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery.
Bruise: a hemorrhage under the skin caused by contusion.
Burns: caused by excess heat, chemical exposure, or sometimes cold (frostbite).
Concussion: a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow, without any penetration into the skull or brain.
Fractures: injuries to bones.
Joint dislocation: the displacement of a bone from its normal joint.
Shock: a serious medical condition where the tissues cannot obtain sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
Sprain: a sudden overstretching that causes a tear in the ligaments and the muscles.
Wound: cuts and grazes to or through the skin that cause bleeding.

06/30/2009 - News

Check Your Chances of Falling

As one gets older, the chances of falling increase, and with them the chances of long-lasting disability. Answer these 10 questions to see if you need to be better prepared against the risk of a fall at home. Read more

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06/25/2009 - News

Pet Owners at Risk for Fall-Related Injuries

Dogs and cats are a great source of companionship for older adults. In 2006, approximately 43 million US households owned dogs and approximately 37.5 million households owned cats. Read more

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06/19/2009 - News

Men with low testosterone more likely to fall

Low testosterone is linked with an increased risk of having a fall among men.The amount of the hormone testosterone in a man's blood declines with age. Some research has suggested that this decrease might be linked to age-related health problems. Read more

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06/16/2009 - News

Home tips for wound healing

Doctors at the Mayo Clinic explain how to use self help to recover from everyday scrapes and cuts. Read more

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08/22/2008 - News

Hospitalization May Be Bad for Your Bones Too

Hospitalization may decrease physical function and cause bone loss. In the most recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers from the University of California, San Francisco reported that elderly patients who are admitted to the hospital often have increased risks for hip fractures, as well as other types of fractures. Read more

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08/21/2008 - News

Your Reflux Medicine May Be Bad for Your Bones

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as Prilosec® and Prevacid®, are medications that reduce acid production in the stomach. These medicines are associated with an increased risk for hip fractures if they are used continuously for 5 years, according to a study published in the August 12, 2008 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Read more

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03/13/2008 - News

I've Fallen, and I Can't Get Up!

In 2005, nearly 16,000 people over the age of 65 died in the United States as a result of injuries from falls, making falls the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for this age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a self-reported survey which found that 5.8 million adults aged 65 and over fell at least one time in 2006. Read more

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01/21/2008 - News

Strength Training for a Pain in the Neck?

Chronic neck pain is often seen in people (more often women) who have jobs involving monotonous work in a fairly fixed position, e.g. work at a computer. Physical therapy is usually recommended, but it's not been clear what sort of exercises are best. Danish researchers have compared the effects of two types of exercise, and reported their findings in Arthritis Care & Research. Read more

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01/17/2008 - News

What Are Your Chances of Breaking a Hip?

About 330,000 hip fractures occur each year in the USA. They can result in discomfort, promote disability, and result in loss of independence, so it's good to know what the most common risk factors are. Data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study were used to elaborate a list, which has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Read more

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01/01/2008 - News

Running a Marathon Is Less Risky Than Driving One

Happy New Year. Why not resolve this year not to be fooled by apparent risks, rather than real ones? Let's start with running a marathon. Everyone knows (because the media reports it) that every so often a healthy marathon runner drops dead during the race. And before we can think it through, we come to assume that marathon-running is a risky sport. Well, a new report suggests it's not as serious as taking the automobile. Read more

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