Wrist Fracture
What can be done to prevent the injury?
Injuries that cause wrist fractures can sometimes be prevented by:
exercising caution when walking on ice or snow
following rules at pools, water parks, and other recreational areas
following sports safety guidelines for children,
adolescents, and adults
To avoid wrist fractures in elderly individuals, the home should be made safe to prevent accidents. Ways to increase safety include:
having comfortable shoes with nonslippery soles
having safe, well-lit, and uncluttered areas
using a cane or walker as needed
using no throw rugs on floors
using nonskid mats in the shower and bathtub
Intriguing new research done in older individuals with arthritis found that brisk walking or weight training improved balance in those individuals. Improved balance could very well help avoid wrist fractures from falls.
Bone loss, which increases a person's risk of fractures, can be slowed by doing 30 minutes of moderate weight-bearing exercise a day. Weight-bearing exercise includes low-impact aerobics, walking, running, lifting weights, tennis, and step aerobics. A person doing moderate exercise can talk normally without shortness of breath and is comfortable with the pace of the activity. The 30 minutes a day can be done all in one session or broken up into smaller time periods.
Individuals can lower their risk of bone fractures following osteoporosis by:
avoiding smoking
eating a well-balanced diet, following the food guide pyramid
eating 25 grams of soy protein daily
for women who have reached menopause, using hormone replacement therapy
getting effective treatment for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and hyperthyroidism
limiting alcohol intake
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