Balance University Prevents Falling Injuries

THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL REPORTS MORE THAN 1 BILLION OLDER FLORIDIANS EXPERIENCE A FALL EVERY YEAR. THAT MAKES AN INTENTIONAL FALLS. THE LEADING CAUSE OF BOTH FATAL AND NON-FATAL INJURIES. WGCUS CARY BARBOR TAKES US TO NAPLES WHERE SENIORS ARE LEARNING HOW TO PREVENT FALLING. >> 2, WHY A A. >> JIM AND I FELL TWICE RIGHT SMACK ON MY FACE AND I WAS VERY UNHAPPY AFTER THAT. SO I SAID I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING >> WATCH OUT FOR YOUR THAT'S YVONNE MENARD. SINCE THOSE UNFORTUNATE FALLS, SHE STARTED ATTENDING BALANCE CLASS NEARLY EVERY WEEK AT THE CARLYLE IN NAPLES WHERE SHE LIVES. THE CLASSES TAUGHT BY FALL PREVENTION SPECIALIST CHRIS WILLIAMS. >> IF YOU'VE KNOWN ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 65 THAT HAS FALLEN. OR BROKEN A BONE AS A RESULT OF THAT FALL, IT BECOMES A DOWNWARD SPIRAL. IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL, I JUST READ RESEARCH THAT STATED IN A 5 YEAR PERIOD FOR THOSE THAT FALL OVER THE AGE OF 65 AND BREAK THEIR FEMUR. THE MORTALITY RATE AT THE FIVE-YEAR MARK IS 56%. SO FOR THESE GUYS TO STAY STRONG MEANS THEY STAY MOBILE. FACED A MOBILE, THEY STAY INDEPENDENT. >> ACCORDING TO THE CDC EACH YEAR, THERE ARE ABOUT 3 MILLION EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS BROUGHT ON BY OLDER PEOPLE'S FALLS. THEY'RE ALSO THE LEADING CAUSE OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. THE FALL PREVENTION CLASS HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR EXERCISE CLASSES ON THE DOCKET. WILLIAMS TEACHES BALANCE AS WELL AS STRENGTH, WHICH HELPS PEOPLE STAY UPRIGHT AND INJURY FREE. NATALIE LEWIS HELPED RECRUIT WILLIAMS TO TEACH THE CLASS. SHE KNOWS THAT HER FELLOW RESIDENTS APPRECIATE IT. THIS TALK AFTER THE CLASSES THAT WAS GREAT. I FEEL BETTER. >> AND SO IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BALANCE. >> BECAUSE AS CHRIS SAID, THE UNITED STATES ONE PERSON FALLS EVERY 11 SECONDS. >> MARY BRADLEY IS A BIG FAN OF THE CLASS. SHE SAID THAT SHE'S GETTING STRONGER SINCE SHE STARTED ATTENDING. >> I'VE DONE IT EVERY WEEK. AND I SIT DOWN. YOU WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW A SHIP SURE SHOW YOU HOW GOOD I AM AT THIS. SEE LIKE THIS. AND I DO MY HOMEWORK. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. SO NOW I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN. AND SHUT UP. >> TO IMPROVE YOUR OWN BALANCE AND STRENGTH. WILLIAMS RECOMMENDS STARTING BY SIMPLY SITTING DOWN IN A CHAIR AND STANDING UP. HE SAYS TO GO SLOWLY COUNT TO 4 ON THE WAY DOWN AND 4 ON THE WAY UP. DO THAT 5 TIMES OR SO RIGHT DOWN THAT A NUMBER AND THE TRIED TO DO MORE AND EVEN MORE THE AND SO ON. AS FOR THE CARLISLE RESIDENTS, THEY'LL BE HAPPY TO KEEP COMING TO CLASS. >> I COME EVERY TUESDAY AT 11, 30, I GET HERE EARLY JUST TO PRACTICE. IT'S A WONDERFUL CLASS. I'VE I'M VERY GLAD THAT HE'S HERE IN PERSON. YEAH. AND I LIKE HEARING HIS STORIES AND DOING THE EXERCISE AND DO THE HOMEWORK. AND NOT FOLLOWING KNOCK-ON WAS. >> FOR WGCU NEWS ON CARY BARBOR