A new device may be able to stop the geriatric population from falling and hurting themselves from being unable to maintain their balance.
The device is called Yaktrax Walker. This is plastic netting like structure that conforms to the footwear and helps the people wearing them in maintaining a stable walk that will prevent falls.Researchers for the device had asked the participants to maintain a diary of the number of falls they have on wearing the device. The participants were asked to use the device to walk indoor as well as on outdoors and on various surfaces as well. Of the participants who had worn the device, there was a total report of 19 falls as against 43 outdoor falls reported by the control group who did not use the Yaktrax Walker. They control group also had more number of minimally injured fall, 10, as compared to 1 of the group who wore the device.
Researchers of the study hope that the use of the devise will help the elderly maintain their balance and hence have fewer falls. Falling down can cause grievous injuries to the elderly population, and is one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in the elderly population.
Reference: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, July 2005
