Arthritis could increase risk for falls: report

Atlanta – People with arthritis are more likely to experience falls and sustain fall-related injuries, according to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The findings were based on 2012 data from a yearly state-based telephone survey. Researchers found that adults with arthritis were 1.3 times more likely to have one fall, 2.4 times more likely to have two or more falls, and 2.5 times more likely to suffer fall-related injuries.

To prevent falls, the most effective approach involves exercise or physical therapy, which helps improve balance, lower-body strength and gait – and has been shown to decrease the risk of falls by up to 37 percent, according to the study’s authors.

The study was published in the May 2 issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.