Injuries from falls: How they happen and what to do
Dropping temperatures at this time of year can create hazardous conditions for another type of fall - ice, snow and other wintry elements pose a danger for spinal cord injuries as a result of slips and falls.
Falls account for 30 percent of all spinal cord injuries, second only to motor vehicle accidents.
"This is a big concern during winter weather, especially for the elderly," said Dr. Anita Kou, medical director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program at Wheaton's Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Northwestern Medicine. "Anyone with impaired movement, balance or reflexes might not be able to catch themselves with their arms, elbows or knees, meaning the first thing to hit the ground could be someone's head, causing a concussion and potentially a spinal cord injury."
Arthritis is an additional risk factor for spinal cord injuries from falls because of more brittle bones and joints with weaker resiliency. Age and severity of injury can impact recovery outcomes, but Kou says that regardless of those factors, some degree of recovery can be possible.
While Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital sees patients of all ages in its Spinal Cord Injury Program, the program's senior citizen population increases more rapidly in the winter months. Kou said early admission into rehabilitation is key for long-term spinal cord injury recovery.
"Increasingly, research indicates that acute inpatient rehabilitation as soon as possible is crucial to the health of patients with spinal cord injuries," Kou said.
Because the spine is central to the body's function, an injury to it impacts everything, not just paralysis of voluntary muscles - including the skin, breathing and other organ function.
"Even if we cannot start working on ambulation right away, early education is important to manage altered bodily functions, including the bladder and pain," Kou said.
While there still remains no cure for spinal cord injuries, advancements in rehabilitative technology has been instrumental in improving quality of life.
"With robotic exoskeletons, like the ones we have at Marianjoy, I have seen significant recovery for some of our patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries in their ability to walk," Kou said. "I am looking forward to seeing the continued advancements rehabilitative technology brings to physical medicine and rehabilitation, as innovations develop."
As for how to prevent falls in the first place, not much has changed. Kou advises safety practices such as making sure to hold railings on stairways in the winter, as steps may be slippery or icy. Good, stable footwear for the outdoors is also important, featuring things like treaded soles.
"Even though you may be tempted to rush, it's worth it to take the extra time to make sure your walkway is safe and your footing stable," she said. "It's a decision that could affect you for the rest of your life."