Why do women fall?
Falling injuries are a serious health risk in elderly populations, and are more prevalent in women. Therefore, several studies have examined whether there is a difference in posture control and balance between the genders. Schieppati et al (!999) found that healthy men and women were equally able to accurately assess the magnitude of their own body sway with their eyes closed. Bryant et al (2005) found no gender differences in balance performance in a group of healthy adults approaching retirement. Teasdale et al (1993) proposed that reduced sensory information (as with degrading eyesight and hearing) may explain the prevalence of postural difficulties in older populations. In contrast, Schultz et al (1997) suggests that muscle strength is the factor which puts women and older adults at higher risk of falling injuries.
Many of you may remember the "I've fallen, and I can't get up" ads, which appeared in a U.S. commercial in the early 1990's. As a teenager, I found those ads hysterically funny. The harder it gets for me to rise from a prone or sitting position, the less funny they get. I haven't noticed any difference in my balance since transition. I'm still a klutz. My muscles do seem more responsive, and I suspect that Schultz et al may be onto something with that factor. However, I was surprised that I didn't see any studies examining bone strength vs. injury severity, or analysis of the likelihood of living to a fragile age, both of which would seem to put women disproportionately at risk.
Many of you may remember the "I've fallen, and I can't get up" ads, which appeared in a U.S. commercial in the early 1990's. As a teenager, I found those ads hysterically funny. The harder it gets for me to rise from a prone or sitting position, the less funny they get. I haven't noticed any difference in my balance since transition. I'm still a klutz. My muscles do seem more responsive, and I suspect that Schultz et al may be onto something with that factor. However, I was surprised that I didn't see any studies examining bone strength vs. injury severity, or analysis of the likelihood of living to a fragile age, both of which would seem to put women disproportionately at risk.