How to Get Up After a Fall (VITAL for 50+)

[@mafro6625]

I just purchased your book. I am 57 and not in the best strength from being at a desk job all my life. I started yoga and my teacher said we should always practice being able to get up off the floor without the use of our hands. I practice every night and can now get up easily off the floor where before I creaked and struggled. If you don’t use it, you lose it!!

[@KR-lm7gn]

Thank you for all of your videos and tips - they are a great help to us oldies. I have bad knees and struggle to place weight on them to get up off the floor. I have found it easier from a position of being on all fours to bring my bottom up in the air and "walk" on my hands back towards my legs and straighten up. This weird technique is probably not for everyone, but it does seem to relieve pressure on my knees.

[@mswondr]

Thank you Will. These techniques are so helpful for just getting up off the floor even if you are not injured. I have a bad knee and both legs aren’t as strong so this is vey helpful for me. Thank you. 😊

[@HT-Physio]

My pleasure!

[@sandrabutler8483]

@@HT-Physio I can't mechanically get on my hands and knees anymore, luckily since disability I've only fallen once, I have invested in a wide armed leather sofa, with fairly low seating which I don't use but guests can, however I have put it in the right spot so I can use my arms to lift myself from the floor, it might be my health and safety from my career coming in, but I've placed everything just where it suits my needs, if I actually want to get on the floor I use the sofa and lower myself down. I was originally diagnosed with CRPS wrongly for over a decade, it's actually Post Surgical Neurological Neuropathy from having the tourniquet on for too long and to tight during the original operation back in 07 and subsequent medication and procedures which were unnecessary and made the problem worse as I received about 6 nerve blocks which unfortunately uses two blood pressure cuffs around the top of my leg and cut off the circulation for around 25 minutes, so besides other problems it's lost the ability to be used as it used too. I hope this will help others, don't worry about speaking up if you think you're right and in my case a huge number of people from different trusts were actually wrong, it's still ongoing hence not giving too many details, and adapt to how things suit you and not how friends and family might think it helps, they're not living in your shoes

[@judithenglish]

What occurs to me as I watch this is the importance of keeping my cell phone with me. (It's usually with me, in truth.) So, I could of course call someone, in that case. I could also look up what to do on the internet! Also, Will isn't showing my favourite way of getting up, which is, from kneeling put both hands on the floor, then bring both feet to the floor, and push up from the floor using my hands. I am someone who's pretty flexible in a forward bend. Anyway, with my bad knees and poor leg strength, I find this an easy way to get up.

[@sandracumming440]

Thank you! Wonderful, step by step explanation of rising from falls.

[@starapplebaby]

These techniques are great. I haven't fallen but I have to go on the floor to troubleshoot when the computer and UPS have problems. The 1st time it took about 5 minutes for me to get up. I was alarmed. I will certainly try these tips. Thank you.

[@HT-Physio]

Glad to help! Lots of people get stuck in similar positions!

[@aidatunguiadilig9690]

I'm 69 years old, haven't had any experience of a bad fall (i hope i don't) buy your videos are tremendously helpful. A big hug from the Philippines ❤

[@User-4-mn3or]

Excellent advice! I recently tripped over my purse, fell flat on my face and used your example to get up with very bad knee. Thank you so much!

[@VALERIEHANSON-su8hj]

I have been practising your leg and feet exercises. I have a problem with balance and frrl so much better.

[@thejammiebricker2327]

2 years ago I fell mostly face down twice (Sat. & Sun.) in one weekend. 1st time down, I as partially under a table forward & a bit on my side on top of a lot of breakable items that I had been sorting. I was feeling startled & was worried that I might cut myself so checked for wounds 1st then moved things slowly out from me so I could feel the floor clearly. It took a while but was able to move out from under the table edge and slowly push myself up with my hands. I think the injuries (lots of bruising & feeling wobbly) of the 1st day’s fall led to going off balance the 2nd day. Luckily the next day I landed partially on top of a box of LEGO with my abdomen because it kept me high enough to prevent my face from hitting the floor. Very heavy bruising mostly on side from 1st fall & very heavy bruising on abdomen from 2nd fall as well as all the lovely other green & yellow patches. Thankfully I learned from falls on ice not to assume everything is good & to try getting up too quickly. Even out in public, have learned others can be afraid to help so best to know how to help yourself.

[@powerWithinUs4055]

Well done, Will ! ! You’ve got a perfect setup being in the corner. White wall is a white screen. You don’t sound far away and echoey. The wall mass improves the sound. May I suggest….users….take screenshots. That way, the important tips become photos. The screenshots go to Photos where you'll see them often, all the better to commit to memory. Please, all of us, invest in some emergency whistles. Safety orange, inexpensive, hang them on doorknobs so as to see them, be reminded. Let others know, if they hear your whistle, please help. Deeply disappointing is…where is the tech? It should be impossible to fall. A belt with a mechanism to indicate with flashers, you’re reaching too far. Smart shoes to compensate for an uneven gait , where’s the tech? Sending this using the Share Arrow above. Everybody should see these helpful vids.

[@johnroller5198]

Hi Will…a most excellent visual diagram of how one safely exits from an emergency situation…especially useful is your repeated demonstrations of the clever body weight shifting strategies enabling the ‘stricken to arise’…perhaps your minor at university was Engineering to have an innate understanding of the laws of balance and counter-balance…Bravo…❤️

[@HT-Physio]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for the kind words. We had to study a biomechanics module (which I used to hate but enjoy now!)

[@PamelaMiller-n1k]

Great advice. My problem is I fall frequently and can get back up most of the time but there have been times when I can't get up because my muscles feel like all of my strength has been zapped right out of my muscles. I am currently seeing doctors to find out why I fall so much and why at times I can't get up at all I do appreciate your demonstrations I do believe they will help thank you

[@sharmilasaha7265]

Thank you doctor for your advice I have undergone tkr on my right knee 1 year back Once accidentally I fell on the floor I pulled up myself just as you showed and by gods grace I didn't hurt myself

[@zombiesatemydonut]

Some people are still not going to be able to do any of these, especially very heavy people with pain. My way is to get to all fours, push into a bent leg downward dog, then walk hands closer to the body until you can counterbalance and pivot the upper body upward at the hips, using your thighs to rest forearms for support until you gain balance. Then you can walk your feet back together. This is the easiest way and I didn't see it any of your videos.

[@nancybeckerschuster5501]

Thank you. I’ve fallen previously and had the fire dept come to help me. Your info on how to get up is excellent and I’m practicing how to do it (someone is watching me).

[@faithg9766]

Bless you, this reminds me how easy things are when you are young & fit. Seriously though, I will actually practice this.

[@HT-Physio]

Definitely takes practice for most people!

[@garfieldrupe630]

Thank you for posting this. I fell down an hour or so ago. I am all right.

[@sharonsweet5878]

Got to the pivot part where you are on all fours. Try that on a stony driveway and your normally good knees are not being pierced with sharp stones. I rarely fall in a nicely carpeted floor or padded yoga mat.

[@pamelariker5525]

Yes, problems get worse when you have had double knee replacement. I was told that I would be able to kneel after having them done - yes of course I can't. But I will practice your strengthening exercises, they should make things a little easier. Thank you for your videos.

[@andreavanda5402]

Thanks Will for this important video. Senior falls are a very important concern. It is scarey to fall and then realize you can't get up. I will practice these helpful tips. You have a way of explaining things very clearly and step by step that is very useful. You also have a very kind manner.

[@kamalavathani6652]

Thank you Will. This is a really great video -thought out step by step for us seniors. This video is vital .Haven't seen another like it. 👍

[@sabinegreen4272]

I have bought your book. I am so impressed with both your book and vidéos. Your vidéos are the best I have seen on the internet. They have been such a great help for me especially as I am in my late eighties! Thank you so much Will.

[@HT-Physio]

Thank you for purchasing my book, it's great to hear you've found my book and my videos helpful! Wishing you all the best :)

[@ZebaKnight]

I have a (badly) broken shoulder. This video and the other one for those who have no knee problems helped me indirectly. I'll ask my PT guy to help me devise a way to get up from the ground with one weight-bearing arm. I'll ask him to break the process down into steps if I can't do it all right away, as Will demonstrated/suggested in the first video. Thanks, Will.

[@groovygranny5565]

My 91 yr old grandmother fell inside her apartment and went unassisted for several hours. She was taken to hospital and died several days later from complications. A few weeks ago my 100 yr old aunt fell in her home but, even with a call button, she spent a couple of hours on the cold floor. She went to hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia. We were lucky....she's now closing in on 101. My point is this happens to otherwise healthy, older people who can develop complications from going unassisted for hours. I'm 81 and I practice getting up from the floor regularly. It's my "bottom line"....pun intended. ;)

[@adelebarnes1315]

Will, Thank you for the two videos about getting up after a fall - I'm 76 and have had half a dozen falls in the past year. As I've previously had both shoulder and knee injuries, and now have osteoarthritis in both knees and in the discs of my lumbar spine, I could not manage to get up and had to call for an ambulance. I think I might be able to get myself up if I had a stronger lower back. Have you done any videos about strengthening one's lower back ? Thanks.

[@ThePshipley]

Some of y’all forget the people with bad knees we can’t do that. Please come up with something better for us with bad knees thank you.

[@KathiStrunk]

Thank you so much for this information. Very helpful!

[@HT-Physio]

So pleased it was helpful!

[@Ashley-hp2vn]

Your explanation is excellent. I had the experience, that I was totally in panic as I fell down, had no chance to think of all those steps which you show here.

[@HT-Physio]

Glad it helped! Sorry you fell :(

[@homesteading60]

Thank you!

[@wandabrady2178]

Very helpful video thank you for sharing! God bless!

[@marilynwilliams3851]

Thank you for the great videos. So much useful information. And love the accent 😃

[@tinafry1740]

Very useful advice, thank-you. I had a fall last year and fractured my pelvic ring (now healed, but I'm wary of further damage!). Please could you demonstrate how to get up from what you called the sprinter position, so as not to put much strain on the recently healed bone?

[@dm4859]

I fell in a thicket of honey locust branches. No one anywhere to yell for. Every move caused more 2" needles to poke me. I finally decided to lay there and try to toss branches that had needles until i had a little space to put my hand down, get up on all fours, cleared a bigger area, then turned around and finally found a solid log to place vertically for leverage to stand. I was on a downward slope so had to climb up. I made it, and I felt so powerful, like I could do anything!! A lot of sticks, but only two caused problems.

[@HT-Physio]

Ouch! But really pleased to hear you got out!

[@susancook1617]

Thank you, very helpful

[@bridgettquinlan3249]

Thank you for your beneficial demonstrations. Much appreciated.

[@HT-Physio]

My pleasure!

[@Joni.b.]

So very helpful!

[@HT-Physio]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lseh4720]

Fab. Thanks

[@lindadarby9398]

So useful!

[@cherylking1459]

I live alone and MUST be able to manage by myself. Trying to be as heathly and mobile as physically possible. Falling down the basement stairs doing laundry is a big hazard. Awareness that is a risk has me paying more attention when doing everyday things instead of moving mindlessly.

[@kathrynsmith6598]

Thank you! 🤸🏼‍♀️

[@HT-Physio]

Very welcome!

[@FFS10001]

I can’t kneel on either of my knees without pain and I had a fall a few years back landed on my front, managed to get on all fours but excruciating pain, I’d also, without realising it, broken ribs, but because I can’t push up from my thigh, I had to put one foot flat on the floor, so I looked like a triangle and with my hands flat on the floor, I managed to stand up. I was most grateful I wasn’t wearing a skirt!

[@missbiggs9437]

Thanks for sharing these tips but (being young and fit) you make it look easy. 😅 Even just getting up from stooping to pick up after the dog or from cleaning the floor is difficult; I find I have to push the other leg much farther (harder) back just to get a bit of traction because I’m wobbling and slipping and cannot bring the knee/leg up.

[@HT-Physio]

Thank you :)

[@revathiramakrishnan2750]

Thank you Will. Kind request that can you please talk about plantar fasciitis and IVDD exercise please.

[@HT-Physio]

Great suggestion! Will add to the list.

[@terrytravis5521]

Dear will. I have a pain in my right groin that goes into my sciatic and down to my knee what exercises can I do to relieve this thank you

[@sandrashunmugam6108]

Great advice! When I fell, I hit my head n landed on my back. As I fell I hit my right wrist and broke it. How do you get up with a broken right wrist??

[@Kathryn.K]

I'm 62 and have really bad knees, I also have bad shoulders not a lot of strength in my arms so getting up sideways would pretty much be impossible for me my legs do not bend good because of knee issues. Pretty much the only way I think for me to be able to get up if I had to would be to go on my abdomen then lift my chest up off the floor push up on my hands to get on my knees but having my knees on the floor or ground would be really super uncomfortable. 😔 I remember when I was younger my dad had Parkinson's and he would fall and couldn't get up. I don't know if he did have knee issues but if a person does it will make it really hard to bend the legs.

[@romeoslover817]

My muscles are atrophy because of inactivity after two hip replacements. What can I do to strengthen my arms and legs so I can do these exercises to get off the floor?

[@gmr1241]

My knee is so weak (I've been instructed by the consultant never to kneel) so when I fall I end up doing a really ungainly plank-press up to get to my feet. Then I need to lie down to recover.

[@josephkralik5366]

Be careful that door is locked and no-one pops in during the demo. Thanks for the video - great stuff

[@HT-Physio]

Good call!

[@CharleneCTX]

@@HT-Physio For the "no object around to assist" demo, I thought you were going to show opening the door to crawl to a chair or something. 😀

[@sandrastone7019]

I wish you lived next door to me. Does Sydney, Australia sound appealing?

[@BeverlyAcupuncture]

What if you cannot kneel on either knee. They are not bad knees, I just cannot put any weight on my knees, either knee.

[@yayin43]

I recently tripped and landed on my knees skin scraped off up to the lower part of the front legs under the knees and rolled over to the right side of my shoulder. The knees hurts terribly and next day got some bruises on my outer arm and battered shoulder. Good thing no fracture but the scraped knees and legs are so painful.

[@HT-Physio]

Pleased to hear nothing was broken!

[@ronaldwhite1730]

Thank you . ( 2023 / Aug / 02 )

[@LaurelASmith1]

Not able to pivot and roll over if hips aren’t stable.

[@alisiapolini5590]

You are not over 50's...at least in this video...but I like what you say👍

[@jdnirwin]

Your technique to get up with a bad knee doesn't use the good leg to push oneself into a standing position. All of the effort is provided by the arms and the bad leg. Is there a technique which uses the good leg to do the work?

[@fookwah]

Thank you Will - your videos are so helpful that I got 2 of your book - one for me and the other for my brother who is taking care of our aging mother

[@HT-Physio]

Wonderful! Thank you so much and hope it helps!

[@jeandavis860]

I have 2 knee replacements so none of these help.

[@apexzegreat2831]

Thigh of thunder

[@HT-Physio]

Ha!

[@apexzegreat2831]

@@HT-Physio apology, I meant muscular legs. 🙏🏽

[@CarlaGeerlings]

You talk to much and lo long Sorry.

[@JasonSmith-lp6wg]

For ages 50+? I'm 51 and walk 10k to get my morning coffee. (Are you sure you're don't for ages 85+?) ;)

[@dorothywelton5750]

So, why were you watching the video? And you've got no perception of when disability can start. 85+? Look around you.

[@groovygranny5565]

Be grateful that you are so capable. Not all people are.