LA CROSSE, Wis. — Balance is defined as the body's ability to maintain its center of mass over the base of support. More importantly, especially when snowstorms hit, being balanced can prevent falls, which can lead to a reduction in injury.
"Many parts of your body play key roles with your balance," says Kariline Bringe M.D., orthopedic surgeon, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. "Your muscles, bones, joints, eyes, the balance organ in the inner ear, nerves, heart and blood vessels must work normally for you to have normal balance. When these systems aren't functioning well, you can experience balance problems."
Snow and ice don't help when it comes to balance either. Falls on ice and snow can result in injuries, such as broken arms, legs and hips, severe back injuries, and concussions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control says unintentional falling is the leading cause of nonfatal injury across all age groups, except for the age group of 10-24. One out of every 5 falls results in a serious injury, such as a head injury or broken bones. That's more than 800,000 hospitalized annually.
