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Working With An Orthopedist

A few years ago, I decided to take up running. I was bad at it at first, but after a few months, I got more comfortable. Unfortunately, right when I got good at running, I developed a bad pain in my left foot. At first, I decided to push past the pain, but it quickly became excruciating. I realized that it might be a good idea to talk with a doctor about my problem, and so I met with an orthopedist. He carefully watched my gait as I ran, and he decided to take some images to check out my bone health. It turned out that I had developed a stress fracture, and my doctor recommended surgery. This blog is all about ways that an orthopedist can help you, so that you can enjoy your hobbies.

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Working With An Orthopedist

Are You A Senior Who Lives Alone? Use These Tips For Preventing Falls

by Jessie Hawkins

If you are over the age of 65 and live alone, it's a good idea to start being more diligent about lowering your risk of falling inside your house. More than one third of seniors 65 and over have a fall every year. Here's how to prevent falls.

Change Your Bathroom Floor Tiles

Because of water and hard surfaces, the bathroom can be the most dangerous room in your home and the place where you're most likely to fall. You might have slip-resistant appliques in your bathtub or shower to prevent slips, but if you are like many homeowners, your bathroom floor is made with ceramic tiles than can be slippery too. One idea to make the bathroom floor a little safer is to switch from ceramic tiles to rougher, slip-resistant tiles. Because they contain abrasives that give a rougher finish to them, these tiles can help you stay on your feet.

Make Use of Grab Bars

Another thing that makes falling a risk in the bathroom is that sitting down and raising yourself from the toilet can be difficult as you get older. Grab bars can make these tasks easier, giving you something to grip and anchor yourself. If you take regular baths, grab bars may help there as well.

Take Up Your Small Rugs

Small area rugs can make your home look visually striking, but because they aren't attached to the ground, they may cause you to slip and fall if you're in a hurry to answer the phone or open the front door. To make sure this doesn't happen, take up your small rugs. If you've got hardwood floors and are concerned about slipping on them even without the rugs, you can ensure that you are always walking in shoes that have some grip on the bottom or non-skid socks. You can also have carpet installed.

Have Medication Reassessed

If you are taking medication that makes you sleepy or dizzy, it is going to be hard for you to walk around and may make falls more likely. Your doctor needs to know about these side effects; they might be able to prescribe alternatives that do not produce those effects.

Use the tips and make the changes above to help you stay on your feet. If you suffer a fall anyway, see your primary care physician. They may refer you to an orthopedic surgeon like Gotham City Orthopedics to determine whether surgery is necessary and to provide you with more information about caring for your body as you age.

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