205. Myth Busting: Fall Prevention and Aging with Joy Fletcher

One out of four older adults will fall annually in the United States. If you're thinking, I'm not at risk, my guest today will talk about how age 30 is the new 50 when it comes to preventing falls.

Our foundation at that early age dictates what we can handle as we grow older. Joy Fletcher is a fitness professional with more than three decades of experience. She's the owner of Agile 4 Life Fitness. Her latest project is a 12-week group program called Standing Strong, designed to help participants improve strength and balance to prevent devastating falls.

Joy is breaking her industry. She is busting the myth that as you age, it's just how it is. You're going to fall. You're not going to be as strong. That's just what it is to age.

Falling, says Joy, is a multi-pronged problem that starts when we're younger. We now know we begin losing muscle mass and bone density at age 30 – not 50 or 60. This creates a loop where lost muscle strength means you're less stable and more apt to lose your balance. 

Other factors affect balance, like how well we can hear. People who wear two hearing aids will have more problems. The same is true with vision issues and diabetes. 

Diabetes might lead to neuropathy; the sensation in the bottom of your feet is not as good as it used to be. It's easier to trip. Because of muscle weakness, you might have drop foot. That might mean not being able to lift your foot high enough over a step or a rug. The fear of falling can lead to shuffling, affecting our posture and mobility. 

Joy says 30 minutes a day walking and doing some weight training will help. She says people tend to discount yoga and tai chi, but anytime we move the muscles, it will help. Stretching really is strengthening, she says. You can still build quality muscle mass at 70, 80, and 90. You can start at any age.

"Why do you think I don't give my dad a break even though he's going to turn 96," says Joy. "Every rep we do is going to be quality, and it's going to help him with his strength and his balance."

She says it's important to learn the form and the proper technique. Try not to get discouraged, and don't rush. But it's like riding a bike. You develop motor control and muscle memory. Even if someone falls and they're older, they're still going to be able to catch themselves better and recover better.

Just because we get older, we don't have to fall. Joy says there's nothing better than watching someone gain confidence from taking care of themselves better. 

Mentioned in this episode:
Silver Sneakers: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRp-32Yi0KC2YMgHIg6mTag 
AARP: https://www.aarp.org/ 

Connect with Joy Fletcher: https://agile4lifefitness.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Agile4LifeFitness 
Joy is sharing a 20-page infographic that gives specifics on how to decrease the risk of falling for older adults: https://agile4lifefitness.punchpass.com/content-library/149961 

Other GoG episodes you might want to check out:
Changing The Conversation: Aging Is HOT https://sarahwalton.com/sheilisa/ 
Do Mushrooms Really Have Health Benefits? https://sarahwalton.com/mushroom-health-benefits/ 
The Power of Running (You're NEVER Too Old To Start!) https://sarahwalton.com/beth/ 
Your Body Is As Important As Your Business https://sarahwalton.com/womens-gut-health-love-your-body/ 

You can check out our podcast interviews on YouTube, too! http://bit.ly/YouTubeSWalton  

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