How do you feel about falling?

I’ve been diagnosed with a movement disorder. I’m almost always on the verge of falling all the time.
Apparently my brain, and body ard not communicating correctly. It’s called, Functional Movement Disorder.
I don’t seem to be able to do anything about it like exercises even chair ones. I have rolled off a chair onto the floor when trying to pick something off of the floor! I also have double vision.
I have to use a cane or walker when I go out so I don’t trip and fall.

A few years ago I was perfectly fine. Now not so much.

@sueinmn, I’ve learned how to “hug” my phone to my chest while still having it pointed to the ground in front of me. My only concern is I don’t always see people or things (bicycles, elec bikes) coming toward me and Incan get startled.
Hopefully once I move this won’t be an issue.

A friend once told me her doctor said one of the reasons elders fall is because they do not lift their feet as they did when they were older. I know I've tripped over cracks in the sidewalk that would not have been a problem in my younger years. I now make it a point to look down, scan what is in front of me and lift my feet. I find this has helped prevent those embarrassing moments. Other than that, I make good use of handrails and take it slower things than I used to.

@equanimous sorry...meant to say "when they were Younger."

It’s a conundrum! Elderly folks’ sensory systems are often not as efficient. Knowing where your body is in space is not as sharp as when younger. This means lifting a leg is more precarious because it’s more difficult to know how much the leg has moved. So the impulse is to keep the foot closer to the ground.
Shuffling might be used by someone with peripheral neuropathy because it’s a bit scary to not be able to feel your feet. Keeping the feet close to the ground keeps the guesswork out of knowing whether your feet are directly under you for the next step.

Wearing trifocals, or even bifocals, might cause someone to have to look down very far, causing the head to be too far tilted forward. Just think, the reading area of eyeglasses is the lowest and the first section to view out of when looking down. But the reading lens isn’t good for looking at the ground, it’s blurry, The visual area of the glasses is at the top and the head has to be turned far down to view through that section.

I’m not a vision specialist, nor a medical professional for the elderly, but I’d advocate for wearing a single lens eyeglass for walking around, and a second pair for reading. Although losing them is then a problem. A conundrum!

@equanimous My answer is walking as though I am running with my heels striking first, then moving onto the ball of the foot.
We were at the Twin Cities Marathon Family Day today (2 grandsons ran 5K race.) I observed many of the people walking to/from the venue walked that same. Perhaps it was running for over 40 years that prompts me to do it. It is very difficult to shuffle when walking this way. My trips/stumbles come when I am working around the yard, uneven surfaces, "stuff" on the ground not paying attention...

After having a 4 level fusion a few months ago, I take extra care against falling. I just don’t walk on uneven ground.

@cynthiaftaylor
We certainly have to be more careful now. People talk about mindful eating to lose weight. I would say mindful walking - all the time - is SO important! How many times have I stumbled in the kitchen when turning around too fast to shut that refrigerator door or, to turn off the stove and then tripping over my own two feet?! It is hard because we are not used to it, but mindful walking (and movement) is essential. Once you practice a lot, it becomes more natural. We can do this.

I've managed to trip over my own feet when I have two tasks in the same small vicinity. In the bathroom I was going to brush my teeth (one foot turning right), decided last moment to grab a face cloth from the cupboard just beyond the sink (other foot still proceeding forward). A near oopsy. How did I ever manage to get to my 80s without this previously being a problem?

@triciaot hi, i like to look ahead a few feet without looking down too much, as NYC is a place where you need to pay attention to so much in order to be safe…also, my neck doesn’t like too much looking down …and smaller steps can make it easier to respond to changes … walking can be complicated ! Just practice smaller steps with a touch of lift at home to get used to it.