Hip fractures are the most common type of injury suffered by elder adults. This split-second injury can drastically reduce the quality of life, to say the least. According to research, 30% of the elder adults (age 50+) spend at least a year in a nursing facility, 40 % of patients experience walking difficulties and 60% face difficulties performing their everyday routine.
Pain, functional limitations, stiffness and long road to recovery – hip fracture can be a serious problem even for younger patients. But for elder adults, the fracture can be life-threatening due to the range of complications it can trigger – a reason when hip replacement surgery in India is a boon to the patients.
Hip replacement surgeries can be and bring back mobility and offer considerable relief. But it is even better to reduce the chance of needing the surgery in the first place by taking preventing measures and today we discuss how. With the inputs of a hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai Dr Chirag Patel, we shed light on the risk factors of hip fractures and then give our 5 ways to prevent these hip fractures from happening. Read on
Risk factors of the hip fractures
Who is at more risk of hip fractures?
Fall injuries are the most common causes of hip injuries worldwide and the chances of suffering the fall raise with age, according to the hip surgeon in Mumbai Dr Chirag Patel. Surprisingly women suffer 75% of the hip fracture cases due to an increased risk of osteoporosis that weakens bones.
In short, falling is the primary cause of hip fractures worldwide. Though not all falls result in fractures, certain conditions like osteoporosis and lifestyle factors may increase the risk of this fracture happening.
In addition to this patients suffering endocrine disorders that lead to fragile bones, patients with nervous system problems that increase their risk of falling have a greater risk of hip fractures. Long term physical inactivity, nutritional problems, and tobacco and alcohol usage also increase the risk of hip fracture in old age.
5 ways to reduce the risk of hip fractures:
An individual can however take certain preventive measures that can reduce the risk of hip fractures, accelerate the recovery and reduce the complication that may arise. Best hip replacement surgeon in Mumbai Dr Chirag Patel identifies the following measures that individuals can take to reduce the risk:
- Regular physical activity: Weight training improves and maintain bone density as one age. Even walking and yoga can ignore flexibility and mobility to improve balance.
- A balanced diet with adequate Vitamin D and Calcium: Ensure your diet has the right amount of Vitamin D and Calcium levels that are crucial to maintaining the bones mas.
- Eliminative excessive smoking and alcohol – Smoking and alcohol tend to reduce bone density and accelerate osteoporosis. So limit smoking and alcohol as much as possible.
Optimize at-home conditions: Given fall injuries are the leading cause of hip fractures, patients are advised to optimize the home conditions to eliminate the risk of falling. Electrical wire on floor, wet floors and dim-lit conditions must be taken care of.
- Consult an orthopaedic specialist for a customized plan: There is a high probability that a patient has overlooked all the above preventive measures. So we advise every patient to consult an orthopaedic specialist in Mumbai to know their current status and get a customized plan that help them make quick lifestyle changes and reduce the risk of hip fracture in the future. If you are living in and around Mumbai, Dr Chirag Patel is the best orthopaedic specialist and hip surgeon in Mumbai who can help you craft this plan for you. You can contact him .