Balance and aging
Exercise extreme caution on ladders
By Isabelle Southcott
A story about falling off a ladder might not get your attention but what happens to someone who falls off a ladder should, says former professional roofer Randy Mitchell.
There's a very good reason why men over 50 shouldn't be professional roofers and climb ladders, says Randy.
Your balance and coordination begin to decline when you are in your 40s by about one per cent per year. This means, that by the time you reach 65 or 70 your balance and coordination have declined about 20% per cent or more if you don't do something about it--and there are a number of exercises you can do to improve your coordination.
Randy, who is now 58, has been climbing ladders for as long as he can remember. He owned a roofing company for over 30 years and worked as a professional roofer most of his life. He sold his company several years ago after noticing a perceptible decline in his balance.
"When I was in my 40s I noticed that when I went to get on a ladder, members of my crew would grab my jacket and help me on the ladder. They noticed my balance deteriorating before I did. I said: 'Am I that bad?'" They said, 'Yes.' That is when I made a decision to get out of business."
Randy blames himself for what happened in early August. "I should have known better, looking at the ladder," says Randy, shaking his head. "I was going up on my roof to do a small job and because it was a small job I was complacent. I had this old piece of junk from a lumberyard. It was a cheap, lightweight ladder. I sold all my good ladders when I sold my company," says Randy.
That day he leaned his old ladder up against his house and began climbing. He didn't sandbag it at the bottom or tie it off at the top.
"I got right to the roof edge and when I went to step off the ladder..."
The next thing Randy remembers is waking up on the ground and that's where his partner Libby found him.
"She heard the crashing and came running."
Randy wound up in hospital with a broken arm and smacked up vertebrae. "I landed on my back," he says. Randy was moved to St. Joseph's Hospital in Comox where an orthopedic surgeon could look after him.
Because his injuries were on different sides, he could not get comfortable. "I was in extreme pain. My back would spasm and I was given drugs for the pain."
When they were finally able to x-ray his back, Randy learned he had cracked number five and seven discs and both were bulged.
Randy knew immediately that surgery was out of the question. "I refused to let them touch my back. I wanted to wait and heal up myself."
Randy left the Comox hospital but not before a boil advisory warning was issued for Comox water. "I ended up getting the runs from the Comox water system," he says. "Just imagine dealing with that with two cracked vertebrae and one arm in a cast."
As dreadful as it was, it could have been worse and Randy knows that. Today, he is walking, hiking and enjoying life.
"The doctors in Comox said that I was in good physical condition but they did not know how I would make out because my condition was so good."
Since retiring, Randy has been able to do more backpacking and hiking, primarily uphill in the backcountry. "I'm a member of search and rescue and I've always wanted to stay in good enough shape to pack a big enough pack of emergency equipment and deal with the hardships of searching for someone for long hours."
Ultimately, it was Randy's excellent physical condition that saved him.
"If I hadn't been in such good shape I would have had to have had surgery."
These days Randy is telling all his friends and anyone who will listen to him not to buy cheap ladders.
"There's no savings in a cheap ladder. You might save a few dollars but factor in loss of income and loss of health and a cheap ladder doesn't pay."
At this time of year, people are up on ladders putting up Christmas lights, cleaning gutters and pruning trees. The Canadian Institute for Health Information reports that November is the peak month for falls from ladders. Falls from ladders send thousands of people to hospital each year. People between the ages of 40 and 59 accounted for nearly half the visits, and men made up 82 per cent of emergency room patients injured by falling from a ladder.
Fall-proof your life
The National Trauma Registry has shown that falls are now the leading cause of acute care hospital injury admissions for people aged 50 or older.
Falls are not a normal part of ageing--they are the result of preventable accidents that most often occur at home. Did you know that the majority of falls occur on the stairs, in the bathroom and in the bedroom? The most common injuries are fractures to the forearm and hip. Sadly, these injuries can significantly change someone's life and result in a substantial rise in health care costs.
Here are some tips on how to staying safe:
Ladders
• Don't buy cheap, lightweight ladders.
• Tie ladders off at the top.
• Sandbag or stake ladders at the bottom.
• Have someone with you if it is necessary to use a ladder.
Bedroom
• Have a light within reach of your bed.
• Keep a flashlight next to your bed.
• Keep floors clear.
• Secure loose phone and electrical cords.
• Ensure eyeglasses are within easy reach of the bed.
• Get out of bed slowly so you don't feel lightheaded when getting up.
Bathroom
• Install non-slip flooring.
• Use self-adhesive non-slip strips in the shower and bath.
• Install handrails around the bath and toilet.
Clothing and footwear
• Shoes and slippers should have non-slip soles with patterned tread and round, broad heels.
• Do not wear socks without another form of footwear. Do not wear loose-fitting slippers, leather or other slippery soles and high heels.
• Clothing should be short enough to avoid tripping.
• Sit instead of standing on one leg while dressing.
