The Injury Prevention Service of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) will be hosting Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance Instructor Training workshops across Oklahoma. Individuals who successfully complete this two-day workshop are qualified to lead Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance classes. Participants will be expected to help expand this program by teaching classes in their communities to help prevent injuries from falls, which are a growing public health problem nationally and in Oklahoma. Most fall injuries happen in predictable, preventable ways, according to OSDH public health officials.
Free instructor trainings will be held in Duncan, Enid, and Norman with a limited number of spots available. To enroll in a workshop, contact Avy Redus by phone at 405-271-3430 or by email at
· Duncan -- (August 28-29, 9:00 – 4:00, Duncan Senior Citizens Center)
· Enid -- (September 18-19, 9:00 – 4:00, Garfield County OSU Extension Center)
· Norman -- (September 25-26, 9:00 – 4:00, Norman Senior Citizens Center)
Nationally, falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in every age group except ages 15-24 and are the leading cause of injury death among adults 65 years and older. Every year in Oklahoma, about 7,000 older adults are hospitalized and more than 350 die, from a fall. Acute care hospital charges alone total nearly $237 million a year.
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance is an evidence-based fall prevention program for community-based organizations. This exercise program focuses on improving functional abilities, such as balance and physical function, to help reduce fall-related risks and the frequency of falls.
OSDH offers the following tips on simple things you can do to help prevent falls:
· Exercise regularly. Exercises that improve strength, balance, and coordination are the most helpful in lowering the risk of fall‐related injuries.
· Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review both prescription and over‐the‐counter medications to monitor side effects and interactions. The way medications work in the body can change with age. Some medications or combinations of medications can contribute to drowsiness or dizziness, which may increase the risk of falling.
· Have vision screenings at least once a year. The wrong prescription eyeglasses or health conditions, such as glaucoma or cataracts, limit vision and may increase the risk of falling.
· Reduce hazards in the home that may lead to fall‐related injuries.
‐ Keep floors clean and clear of clutter where people walk.
‐ Maintain adequate lighting throughout the home, especially near stairways.
‐ Remove throw rugs or use non‐skid throw rugs in the home, and use non‐slip mats in
the bathtub or shower.
‐ Install handrails on stairways and grab bars in bathrooms.
‐ Keep items needed for regular use in easy‐to‐reach places that don’t require the use of a
step stool.
To receive more information on classes and how to prevent falls, contact the OSDH Injury Prevention Service at (405) 271-3430 or visit http://falls.health.ok.gov.