All About Falls
A funny thing happened to me when I was in the middle of creating a new fall prevention course…I fell, which did not turn out to be funny at all because I almost died.
That experience lit a fire in me to educate others on the subject of falling. While all falls cannot be prevented, many like mine absolutely can!
In my newly “retired from clinical practice” phase of life. I will be:
Writing and adding blogs to my website
Providing individual fall risk assessment & education sessions
Teaching online Zoom and in-person classes
Consulting with individuals and organizations
Fall Prevention is the first topic I will be writing, teaching, and consulting about. It has been my hope and dream to gather all of the wisdom I have garnered in my 55-year career and put it to good use by educating others. So I am starting here!
Even though I have been a physical therapist these many years and decades and have always provided fall prevention strategies to my clients, as a result of my fall, I have a whole new approach and a much more in-depth and valuable body of knowledge to share with all of you. I will address not only fall prevention but the aftermath of a fall and the seldom discussed topic of fall recovery and healing from a fall.
I have been interviewing others who have taken a fall, and their experiences support my theories, which I look forward to sharing with you.
Why did I fall, and why did it prove to be almost fatal?
The commonly held opinion is that my fall resulted from a misstep on a small stair…and that would be true. But what I have set out to understand is why I took that misstep in the first place.
Well, here it is:
I was rushing
I was multitasking
I had on ill-fitting shoes
Also, the reason the fall was near fatal is because I am on blood thinners. I fell on my right hip, shoulder, and side of my head and miraculously did not break one bone. I will be addressing the topic of strong bones down the road.
However, I fell so hard that I ruptured a small artery in my hip musculature and nearly bled out. After five days in the hospital and three blood transfusions, I was still in shock, fragile, and feeling quite fearful and vulnerable walking around in the world. I want to help others avoid all of this!
Therefore, my “All About Falls” training will include:
The multilayered underlying causes of a fall.
How to prepare yourself to prevent a fall.
Providing education to alter the faulty thinking that “falls are simply a matter of aging.”
In-depth information about what happens to the mind, body, and spirit after a fall.
What it takes to fully recover from a fall.
This has become a bit of a passion project for me, so I am exploring all of the ways I can get the information out to as many individuals as possible. I am open to all feedback! If you, your organization, or individuals you know might be interested in hosting an “All About Falls” education group on this important subject, please reach out.
One Critical Fall Prevention Tip:
If you can change one thing in your routine to decrease the likelihood of a fall, be very judicious about MULTITASKING. You cannot be fully in your body when you multitask!
Stay tuned for the next publications that will take a deeper dive into “All About Falls.”
