Reduce The Risk Of A Broken Hip

The hip is a large, ball-and-socket joint. It is made up of two parts. The acetabulum (socket), which is carved into the hip bone. And the ball, which is actually the top of the femur (thighbone). Daily, the hip is subject to much stress. This is due to movement, impact and weight. Fortunately, its design of bone, along with supporting cartilage and ligaments, makes it strong and flexible. However, it is not infallible.

There are more than 300,000 hip fractures treated each year in the U.S. Most of the victims are seniors. The primary cause of these breaks is a fall, often combined with frail bones. The majority of the ill-fated falls are to the side of the person, pointing to balance and strength issues. Many hip fractures are preventable. It starts with knowing who is at risk. Then those at risk must take the necessary preventative measures.

Here are some of the factors that put a person at a higher risk of fracturing their hip.

• Poor balance or lack of mobility.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Cognitive impairment.
• Misuse or failure of walking aids.
• Poor vision.
• Poor nutrition.
• Osteoporosis.
• Female gender (80% of all hip fractures).
• Age: people 85 + are 10-15 times more likely to fracture a hip than people 60-65.
• Taking a medication or have a disease that make falls more likely.
• Have taken a previous fall.
• Have had a previous fracture.