Sky Lakes Medical Center | Live Smart | Winter 2019

SkyLakes.org | LIVE smart 3 Walking on parking lots or to and from buildings during the winter requires special attention to avoid slipping and falling. Slips and falls are some of the most frequent types of injuries people sustain during the winter months. LIVE smart Information in Live Smart comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2019 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. On the cover: Scenic vistas with opportunities for outdoor recreation abound in the Klamath Basin—in all seasons. Photo by Stewart Decker, MD, a Klamath Falls physician. By Joyce Chadderdon, PT, DPT, NCS Sky Lakes Outpatient Rehab Services Walking in winter Watch your step It’s important to wear appropriate shoes to help prevent falls when walking on snow and ice. During bad weather, avoid boots or shoes with smooth soles and heels, such as plastic and leather soles. Instead, wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice—boots made of nonslip rubber or neoprene with grooved soles are best. A comparison of shoes with tread in different locations on the sole (whole-foot tread, toe anti- skid devices and heel tread) found that heel tread is best for reducing slips and trips. In cold temperatures, approach with caution and assume that all wet, dark areas on pavements are slippery and icy. Dew or water vapor can freeze on cold surfaces, forming an extra-thin, nearly invisible layer of ice that can look like only a wet spot on the pavement. Watch where you are stepping, and go S-L-O-W-L-Y! This will help your reaction time to changes in traction. Walk like a penguin Bend your hips and knees slightly and walk flat-footed with your center of gravity directly over the feet as much as possible. When on snow and ice, walk like a penguin—that is, walk with your feet apart and toes pointing slightly outward. Take short steps or shuffle for stability. Keep your hands out of your pockets so you can extend your arms out to your sides to help maintain balance. Remember that carrying a heavy backpack or other load will affect your sense of balance. Use special care when entering and exiting your vehicles—use your hand on the vehicle for added support. When walking on steps, always use the hand railings and plant your feet firmly on each step. It may be safer to take one step at a time. Steady as you go For added safety when walking during the winter months, use assistive devices that you may not necessarily need to use inside your home: a walker, a cane or walking sticks. Additional traction devices applied to your shoes, such as Yaktrax, can make your winter walking safer. Walking is excellent exercise, so don’t let winter weather make you sedentary. Bike paths, the paved trail along Foothills Boulevard and the OC&E Trail are some outdoor options. There are a number of indoor options in the area, too, such as school gyms and Mike’s Fieldhouse at Steen Sports Park.