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(U.S. News) Building strength, balance and cognitive function can keep nasty slips at bay. Falls will happen, no matter your age. But the hard truth is that the older you get, the more susceptible you are to a potentially devastating fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed the leading cause of injury in adults 65 and older as, you guessed it—falling.
There is some good news, however. Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you’re doomed. In fact, one certainty among health professionals is that it’s never too late to start preparing for the changes that life (and your own body) will throw at you as you age. Regular exercise and strength training can have a drastic impact on your odds of falling. A British Journal of Sports Medicine analysis in 2016 found that exercise alone can reduces the risk of falling in seniors by 21 percent! Even better, regularly exercising for more than three hours total per a week can reduce falls by up to 39 percent.
Here are six exercises to get you started on the path to preventing falls.