Preventing Falls After 70: Understanding the Risks and How Chiropractic Care Can Help.
Why Falls After 70 Are So Dangerous
After age 70, the body’s resilience, muscle tone, and neurological coordination naturally decline. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in adults over 65. By age 70 and beyond, the risk of serious injury or death doubles every decade. If you have aging parents, or if you are/were a huge fan of Ace Frehley, who just passed away after a “minor fall” and subsequent “brain bleed”, you should read on…
Key Statistics:
* 1 in 3 adults over 70 falls each year.
* Falls cause over 95% of hip fractures in older adults.
* Falls rank as the #1 cause of accidental death in adults over 70.
* After a serious fall, over 50% lose their previous level of independence within a year.
Common Reasons for Falls After Age 70
Falls rarely have a single cause. They’re usually the result of interacting physical, neurological, and environmental factors, such as:
1. Muscle weakness and poor postural control
Loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers makes it harder to catch oneself during a stumble.
2. Decreased sensory input
Eyesight changes, reduced hearing, and loss of foot sensitivity (neuropathy) can make balance difficult.
3. Neurological slowing
The brain’s reaction time and coordination centers slow with age.
4. Vestibular system decline
The inner ear, which controls balance, becomes less responsive.
5. Medications
Sedatives, antihypertensives, or diabetic medications can cause dizziness or orthostatic drops in blood pressure.
6. Joint stiffness and spinal changes
Restricted movement in the hips, ankles, and spine limits postural adaptation.
7. Environmental hazards
Uneven flooring, poor lighting, clutter, or slippery surfaces.
Risk of Death, Disability, and Loss of Independence
A fall may seem minor, but in the over-70 population, the consequences are often life-altering:
* Mortality: 10–15% of falls result in fatal complications (head trauma, internal bleeding, or infection). As the music world rightfully mourns the death of Ace Frehley, it should be remembered that this was his unfortunate fate.
* Disability: 25–30% of older adults who fracture a hip never regain full mobility.
* Independence: Nearly half of those hospitalized for a fall are discharged to long-term care facilities.
* Psychological impact: The fear of falling again often leads to reduced activity, which worsens weakness and instability, creating a dangerous cycle.
Neurological Reasons for Instability and Loss of Coordination
Balance and coordination depend on an intricate communication between the brain, spinal cord, eyes, inner ears, and body sensors (proprioceptors). Well equipped chiropractors have diagnostic tests that give insight into the quality of brain body communication. As we age, several neurological systems weaken:
1. Proprioceptive decline: Nerves in the feet, ankles, and spine become less responsive to subtle position changes.
2. Cerebellar degeneration: The cerebellum — the “balance center” of the brain — may lose volume with age.
3. Vestibular dysfunction: The inner ear’s motion-sensing hair cells diminish.
4. Slower neural transmission: Reduced nerve conduction speed delays reflexes and response times. Watch the video below!
5. Cortical underactivation: The brain’s integration of body position, movement, and balance becomes less efficient.
When these systems don’t communicate properly, the body becomes more likely to misjudge position or respond too slowly — resulting in instability or falls.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Balance and Coordination After 70
Modern chiropractic care, especially when guided by neuro-functional principles, does more than align the spine — it helps stimulate and retrain the nervous system to improve balance, movement, and perception.
Neurological Benefits of Chiropractic for Seniors:
1. Improved proprioception: Gentle spinal adjustments restore joint motion and enhance feedback from the body to the brain.
2. Enhanced vestibular integration: Balancing exercises, head movement retraining, and cervical adjustments can help the brain process balance input more accurately.
3. Faster reflexes and coordination: Research shows chiropractic adjustments can improve reaction time and sensorimotor control.
4. Postural correction: Correcting spinal alignment and muscle imbalances helps maintain a stable, upright posture.
5. Confidence in movement: As patients regain stability, they move more freely and safely — reducing the fear of falling.
Best Ways to Prevent Falls Over Age 70
A comprehensive fall-prevention strategy should combine neurological care, exercise, and environmental safety:
1. Regular Chiropractic and Balance Care
* Schedule periodic checkups focused on balance, posture, and coordination.
* Include proprioceptive retraining and light vestibular exercises.
2. Strength and Stability Exercises
* Tai Chi, yoga, and targeted resistance training improve lower-body strength and coordination.
* If your chiropractor has not given you exercises for this purpose, call Dr. Lou.
* Research shows that chiropractic care makes you stronger!
3. Home Safety Modifications
* Remove loose rugs, improve lighting, and install grab bars where needed.
4. Vision and Foot Care
* Annual eye exams and supportive footwear make a huge difference.
5. Medication Review
* Work with your prescribing doctor to reduce or adjust medications that may cause dizziness. Chiropractic care often reduces the need for certain medications.
6. Hydration and Nutrition
* Adequate water and electrolyte balance reduce dizziness and low blood pressure. Chiropractors also work with people on nutrition!
Takeaway: Aging Doesn’t Have to Mean Instability
Falls are common, but they’re not inevitable. If you are concerned about your parents, you can help them prevent falls by guiding them to preventive care with a chiropractor. Adjustments in older patients are very gentle, very safe, and very effective. By understanding the neurological and physical reasons behind balance loss, and by maintaining proper spinal and nervous system function through chiropractic care, adults over 70 can stay active, confident, and independent well into their later years.
Dr. Lou Jacobs, Chiropractor and acupuncturist in Portland, Maine, has been working with and specializing in the health and performance of musicians of all types, for over 23 years. Dr. Lou’s longevity work has been highlighted in Guitar Player Magazine, and his client list is extensive, having worked with some of the best horn players in the world today. Dr. Lou is always accepting new patients and offers tele-consulting for musicians and others outside of Southern Maine. Dr. Lou also works with families and is board certified in chiropractic care for children and pregnant moms. Dr. Lou may be reached by calling (207) 774-6251 or by messaging his office manager, Sandra Escobar, at Sandra@DrLouJacobs.com.
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