• Question: Why is it that as you get older falling over seems to be more painful?

    Asked by bethj to Carolyn, Peter, Richard, Sara, Siana on 16 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Richard Unwin

      Richard Unwin answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Hi again bethj,

      Not sure if it’s more painful but it can certainly do more damage. as we age our bones get brittle and our skin thins and it takes us longer to heal, so a fall is more likely to cause a broken bone or bad bruising, and the effects will last longer.

    • Photo: Carolyn Nielsen

      Carolyn Nielsen answered on 16 Nov 2015:

      Muscle tone and strength are also lower in elderly people so it can be much harder to just jump up again if you fall down. One way they sometimes test this in people is to have you sit down, cross your legs, then try to stand up without using your hands. Things like this are much easier when you are young, but imagine your grandparents trying to do it- they’d have a much harder time.

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