Does looking down cause falls?

[@Paul-lm5gv]

*Here's the bottom line! Many seniors don't pick up their feet when they walk like a young person naturally does. It makes NO sense to not look at the ground at least occasionally when you walk to see if there is something that might cause you to trip and fall which which could be very serious!*

[@williamschoemann4209]

Thank you. When looking ahead, I notice risks before they arrive. Posture is so important. Not just because Mom said so. When head, shoulders, pelvis are in alignment, balance is easier, and it takes less muscle effort. Sometimes I find myself slumping, and I have to stop and pull myself back in aligment. Then I feel so much better.

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

Exactly!

[@Irene-iu9sj]

And what when the side walks are full of olives,pine cones,eucalyptus tree seeds, e.c.r.,e.t.r.......

[@verreal]

Japanese sensei have already solved this question: Look 45 degrees in front of you. So kind of "downish." You've got to scan the ground somewhat to avoid things you can trip over, but you've also got to see where you're going. Your head shouldn't be moving much forward, it's mostly eyes. In order to avoid your head being forward or down to the point where you're unbalanced, you need to lay the groundwork with years of weight bearing exercise, vitamin D, vitamin K2 and calcium. If you didn't do quite enough, just do your best from this point on. I'm rooting for you.

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

Interesting!

[@MrArdytube]

My area has raised sidewalks due to tree roots Of course the risk was amplified due to not lifting my feet. Which has taken practice and attention to correct. All that said, paying attention rather than daydreaming is an important component of safe walking

[@robbieoneil5945]

It's ok to quickly glance down occasionally to make sure that there's nothing in front of You that You can trip over but then look up immediately & continue with Your walk, I like to compare it with the physical rules for Motorcycle riding, I'm an ex volunteer Motorcycle Instructor & what We used to teach Our Students was that the No° 1 rule for riding a Motorcycle is always keep Your head & eyes up, where You look is where You go, so if You look to the left that's where You go, same thing if You look to the right & if You look down, yes You guessed it, You're going to go down, so always keep Your eyes on the horizon, the further ahead You look the more You're going to see, such as unexpected dangers, like pedestrians wandering out in front of You or a dog running loose or Children or even obstacles on the road, anything from the sides can be picked up by Your peripheral vision but if You're only looking just a few feet in front of You, say at the bumper or number plate of the vehicle in front You won't see these things until it's too late, I Also spent 46 years of My working life as a Postie here in Australia, over here mail is delivered by Motorcycle & a lot of the time You have to look down at Your mail to get the address for the next delivery to be made, it's law here that You have to wear a Helmet while riding a Motorcycle, each helmet weighs anywhere between 1•5 & 3•5 kilos, (2•2 pounds = 1 kilo) so You can imagine the strain that, that puts on the neck especially when each days delivery takes 4 to 5 hours a day & is done 5 days a week & I did that for 46 years, plus all the extra hours I put in as an Instructor & My own personal riding on weekends & after work, it probably accounts for why I feel that I've got such a strong neck but the same can't be said for My back but anyway I still like to go for long walks when I'm not riding & I always make sure that I keep My head & eyes up & just quickly glance down occasionally.

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

Yes! Thank you for all of that.

[@patriciatreslove4449]

I had a nasty fall a few weeks ago, at the time I was looking down it was in slow motion, I am 100% sure if I had not been looking down I would not have fallen. thank you for sharing

[@larryrosenberg756]

Clear, concise, empathetic. Thank you!

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

You're very welcome!

[@riverbender9898]

Your advice is Golden! Thank you.

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

You're so welcome!

[@jimshoe402]

I knew that from my second PT person.Hard to unlearn but ur better then they are BALANCE..😁😁😁 Thank You.. Poor vision u won't last long..😒😒

[@robertbarnier45]

Thanks so much. I’m using your advice. Aussie Bob 😊

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

Excellent!

[@claraharriis1103]

I have arthritis in my neck I tried to do as you suggested it is easier with practice thank you for your information

[@missgandavlogs5306]

Thanks for sharing And God 💕🙏❤️❤️ Bless U ❣️ Dr 💖💞 Doug ❤️

[@dr.samierasadoonalhassani2669]

, thanks,recap look forward always unless arthritis of neck and low vision look down .

[@larrywilson-l7g]

I walk using the sighted guide. Since I am totally blind, I need to hold on to someone's elbow in order to get around. The people who lead me at the nursing are very nice. 1 I can't swing my arms because I am holding another person.

[@edpickering8075]

Thank you...

[@1LSWilliam]

You can learn to do both by constant vigilance. Every second!

[@fayeg3026]

You have to look down here as the roads are so uneven...

[@jimshoe402]

Me Too my Village is fixing my Block after I called..Take care

[@genegoodwin8925]

This may be true for some people and help some people. But my wife has always looked down when she walked. Now that we are older she has fallen six times over the past two years. But she has fallen backwards, not forward. In one fall she broke two verabras and had a brain bleed.

[@annecassidy4448]

Where the head goes, the body follows.

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

True!

[@emcarver8983]

You can only walk erect, looking ahead, when you are on absolutely flat ground. I've taken several times in the last 2yrs, because the pavements are uneven, broken and missing in parts. It's absolutely stupid to walk without looking where you're going to put your feet.

[@breadandcircus1]

It makes NO sense to me , not to look down to inspect the ground I'm walking on, after I suffered a terrible fall when I hit a crack on the pavement and fell forward over my face. To walk looking up is a wrong, I have to check the ground I'm stepping on. I don't agree with you

[@neurolasticinstitute424]

Hello! Thanks for the comment! I agree you have to look at the ground! But when your head stays facing downward, it makes you more likely to fall. Ideally, you should glance down and ahead, keeping an eye on what's in front of you and on the ground. Its something that can improve if you practice.