Accidents and Injuries

The ladder is one of the most utilized tools. Most individuals have a ladder or two in their homes or at work and never consider the dangers. Falling off a ladder can lead to serious injuries like muscle tears, broken bones, damage to the spinal cord, skull fractures, or traumatic brain injury. The objective is to educate homeowners and workers on being more alert, increasing awareness, and reinforcing safety protocols.

Ladder Falls and Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ladder falls account for more than 500,000 injuries and 300 deaths annually. Even professionals with experience in safety can make simple mistakes like carrying too heavy a load or not spotting signs of wearing or a defect that leads to injury.

Causes

Causes can arise from defects or user mistakes. These include:

A Defective Ladder

• Old worn-out
• Damaged or broken
• Loose or cracking rungs
• Ladders folding during use
• Using the improper type of ladder for the job or task

Incorrect Ladder Use 

• Carrying dangerous objects or heavy loads
• Stretching or reaching too far out
• Failing to secure the ladder properly
• Recklessness or horseplay

Injuries

Common falls can cause injuries severe enough to require professional medical care. Around one in five falls, on average, cause serious injuries that include.

• Muscle sprains and/or tears 
• Neck and back injuries
• Herniated discs
• Hip injuries and fractures
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Skull fractures
• Traumatic brain injuries

Any of these injuries could cause permanent disabilities or chronic conditions.

Chiropractic Care

A fall can damage joints, muscles, bones, and ligaments without realizing there is a problem or injury. The back and spine are most likely to be affected. When landing flat on your back, the joints that connect the spinal column can slip, causing inflammation and joint swelling. To prevent chronic pain and alleviate acute pain, seeking medical attention and chiropractic care as soon as possible is recommended. After confirming the spine is not fractured or broken, a chiropractor can bring relief and restore mobility and function. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic are committed to helping individuals rehabilitate and recover from injuries. We develop a personalized plan to maximize the potential of recovering and returning to daily activities as soon as possible.

Safer In Seconds

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Cabilan, C J et al. “Impact of ladder-related falls on the emergency department and recommendations for ladder safety.” Emergency medicine Australasia: EMA vol. 30,1 (2018): 95-102. doi:10.1111/1742-6723.12854

Hicks, Cameron, et al. “Ladder Use in Older People: Type, Frequency, Tasks, and Predictors of Risk Behaviours.” International journal of environmental research and public health vol. 18,18 9799. 17 Sep. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph18189799

“Ladder falls.” Health news (Waltham, Mass.) vol. 4,2 (1998): 7.

Muir, L, and S Kanwar. “Ladder injuries.” Injury vol. 24,7 (1993): 485-7. doi:10.1016/0020-1383(93)90156-z

Partridge, R A et al. “Causes and patterns of injury from ladder falls.” Academic emergency medicine: official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine vol. 5,1 (1998): 31-4. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02571.x

As parents and grandparents, we first need to think about the activities that we will be doing throughout the day and consider how to protect yourself and loved ones from falls and falling injury/s.

Around the House

It is true that most accidents happen at the house. Add that to the increasing number of people both young and elder that work from home. Consider the following tips.

Home

If it is possible, hire a professional to clean the gutters or get one of those gutter washers that you can use from the ground. Falls from the roof results in multiple injuries, and some very serious.

Please don't stand on a chair to change lights or clean those out of reach areas. Always use a reliable heavy-duty step ladder with anti-slip steps and handrails. Doctors from emergency rooms report that falls from chairs are a common case they treat. 

Proper Lighting

Having the right lighting throughout the house is the best defense against tripping and falling. The stairways, hallways, and entrances are primary areas that should be adequately lit to be able to see everything around you. The light switches should be easy to find and activate. Inexpensive night-lights should be placed anywhere you go at night, like the kitchen or bathroom. A small flashlight should also be kept nearby, possibly a keychain or next to the bed in case of an emergency or if the power goes out.

Kitchen

Falling down on wood, or tile kitchen floors can have a serious impact on the body. A wet slippery floor can be another cause for a fall so clean up spills or fix a dripping refrigerator immediately. Using a no-slip floor wax rather than conventional floor wax will reduce accident probability. Keep a secondary heavy-duty step ladder with wide anti-slip steps and handrails for the kitchen. 

Bathroom

The bathroom has the potential to be one of the most dangerous rooms. The slick hard floor floors from bath/shower water along with the limited room to move around comfortably and metal towel rods can make for a dangerous space to fall in. 

However, bathrooms can be made safe by the following:

• Handrails/grab can be placed along the walls and in the shower/bath, near the toilet, and sink.  Make sure that the proper height is measured.
• Anti-slip bath/shower mats and anti-slip floormats can go a long way to help prevent falls. They provide traction and stability while standing and moving around.
• There are some top assisted bath devices in various drug stores and home centers. They include shower seats and walk-in baths.
• Raised toilet seats can be easily installed and shorten the distance needed to sit and more importantly get up comfortably from the toilet.

Elderly and physically challenged individuals could still need help. Make sure assistance is readily available. Elderly and physically challenged individuals could benefit by carrying an alarm or emergency contact system in case they fall or need help.

Stairways

The stairway is an area that can be another danger zone. One stairway danger is the use of canes, walkers and walkers with wheels. These can easily get snagged on a step, or the wheels can slip and quickly travel down the stairs. Safety railing and step mats with traction nibs can help prevent slips and falls. Outdoor stairs should have non-slip tape to prevent falling.

Carpeting/Rugs

Carpeting and rugs are great for warmth, foot care, and decoration, but they can also pose a danger.

Here are a few tips:

• Throw rugs that are not properly anchored to the floor should be anchored or used in an area that will not pose a potential for injury. Stores carry non-slip backing that can be cut and used between the floor and the rug. These rugs can be bought with a rubber backing to prevent slippage.
• Carpeting needs to be smooth and not wrinkled which can snag and cause tripping.
• Bent corners should be removed, and fixed to prevent unraveling or tacked down with non-slip tape.
• Loose fibers need to be cut off. 

Furniture

Individuals that don't use an assisted device like a cane or walker could find navigating through the house difficult. Furniture should be arranged and organized for easy maneuverability. Electrical cords should be safely placed out of the walking path. These cords can be tacked to the floorboard, placed behind/under furniture, or stored in special cord tubes/runners. Small tables, floor lamps, and plants should not be in the walking path as well as this can cause an easy bump to fall scenario. 

Footwear

Footwear should be nice but also practical. Flat-soled shoes, high heels, not properly structured, or ill-fitting shoes can lead to slips and falls. Unsupported feet will not provide a solid foundation to help prevent a fall.

If there are foot issues custom foot orthotics can really help stabilize balance, help the spine stay aligned and bring relief from pain. Orthotics are designed to fit inside shoes to relieve pain from various foot conditions/issues. Non-slip and anti-slip soled shoes can also help prevent a slip and fall. With these types of shoes, care needs to be taken to avoid sticking to floor surfaces. This can contribute to stumbling and tripping. Don't wear socks or hosiery on smooth tiled/wood floors, because there is no floor-foot traction the potential for slipping increases.

When walking outside, if the sidewalk is slippery, walk on the grass or dirt area. Try walking in an area that does not show iciness or wetness. Cat litter or rock/sidewalk salt can provide foot traction.

Assistive Devices for Balance and Stability

If you feel unstable while walking, ask your doctor about an assisted device, that includes canes and walkers. If using a cane, make sure the rubber grip tip is not worn down.

Conclusion

Here are a few tips that may help you to take a proactive approach to fall prevention. Depending on specific conditions, and needs, you may want to talk to your doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist, or other health care professional. They will create a customized individual plan to help prevent falls and enjoy life.

Our clinical focus and personal goals are to help your body heal itself naturally quickly and effectively.  At times, it may seem like a long path; nevertheless, with our commitment to you, it’s sure to be an exciting journey. The commitment to you in health is to, never lose our deep connection to each one of our patients on this journey.

*PLANTAR FASCIITIS* Reduce Foot Pain with Custom Orthotics

NCBI Resources

As you move into your senior years, you may expect some discomfort and loss of mobility. Aging is hard on the body. But it is important to understand that there are things you can do to feel better. Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and chiropractic care can all make your senior years active and thriving.