While some may consider slips and falls slapstick humor, they can be very dangerous and have serious consequences to those who suffer them. Back and joint related injuries are common consequences of slips and falls that can have lasting effects on the injured person.

 

Gait

It may seem obvious, but adjusting your gait can not only help you avoid slips and falls that can cause serious trauma injury to your joints, but adjusting your gait may also help you avoid repetitive movement injuries for those joints as well.  When walking a person should remember a few tips:  Have your feet right underneath your body (hip width apart), arms and shoulders relaxed, in order to not cause undue stress on the upper shoulders and neck and remember to not walk with your hands in your pockets in order to catch yourself in case of an unintentional fall.

 

Watch Your Step

Again, it may seem obvious, but all too often, traumatic injuries are caused by simply not watching where you’re going. A curb or unforeseen ledge can be the catalyst for a major joint or back injury. While some injuries are unforeseeable, especially if caused by someone else’s negligence, if you watch where you’re going — especially in unfamiliar terrain — you can avoid traumatic injury. Most falls happen with simple transitional movement we take for granted. If able, adding braces or railings in these transitional areas of heavy traffic help can eliminate injury causing slips and falls.

 

Seasonal Factors

Seasonal variations can be a huge factor in slip and falls, and it’s not just Winter we’re concerned about. Leaves can be just as slippery as ice. Spring showers can cause slick surfaces and create puddles that distort the distance you perceive to flat ground. All of these can and have caused a loss of balance and result in a slip and fall injury. Of course, ice and snow is the major culprit that bring patients into the office.  Due to injuries pertaining to the elements, there can be a series of knee injuries.  Although it can be very painful to fall on the patella or kneecap. Patients of a top knee pain doctor Rockville MD relies on can easily twist and injure the different ligaments on either side of the knee joint.  if a person has either knees bend, the medial collateral ligament can be affected.  If the knee bends away from the body, that can affect the lateral collateral ligament (LCL).

 

Thinking about your posture and they way you walk can help you avoid slip and fall injuries and increase your health and wellbeing. While they may seem obvious, not taking these helpful hints for granted can save you a

 

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Pain & Arthritis Relief Center for their insight into knee injuries from slips and falls.