We’ve shared a number of blogs on how to avoid falls:  around the home, while working on ladders, and when you’re out and about.  Your chiropractor can give you advice on improving your strength and balance.  A few precautions can greatly minimize your risk.

Sometimes, though, no matter what you do, you find yourself falling anyway.

Then what?

While you are falling

Try to land on your buttocks.  It may seem undignified, but this is the best landing place to prevent more serious injuries.

Don’t rush to get up.  It’s okay to take some time to catch your breath.  You’re more likely to fall again if f you try to get up while you’re dizzy or disoriented.

Immediately after a fall

Take a moment to reorient yourself.  Always check to make sure that you aren’t seriously injured.  Breathe deeply.

If others are trying to help you get up, don’t let them rush you.  Tell them you appreciate their assistance, but you need to orient yourself first.

Get up when you feel ready to do so.  You should not be dizzy, disoriented, confused, or overwhelmed with surprise or pain while you are trying to get up.

When should you call 911?  If a limb won’t move, or if you think it’s broken.  When you can’t get up because it’s too painful, you’re not strong enough, or you keep falling down.  If your dizziness and/or disorientation don’t go away.  When falling causes loss of consciousness.  If you have weakness on only one side of your body.  Or, if the fall has caused additional injury (like a deep cut causing significant blood loss, or you hit your head when you landed).

Soon after a fall

Make an appointment to see your chiropractor as soon as possible.  You may feel that you are fine, just bruised and embarrassed, but your body may be out of alignment.  Chiropractors learn techniques that help your body to heal from falls.  We can also help you to prevent future falls.

Call Sheppard Chiropractic Center at (506) 635-8182 or (506) 847-7172 to make your appointment.  We are taking new patients and we are always glad to help current patients.

When you fall

Always tell your chiropractor that you have had a fall.  We can be more helpful if we know the full situation.

Many patients do not mention falls because they are embarrassed.   Others try to convince themselves that the fall was unimportant.  There is nothing to be ashamed of.  Helping to prevent disability from falls is part of our mandate.

Next week we’ll look at what to do long-term after you have had a fall.