Large amounts of snow and ice Serbia already chained for days brought, as expected, a large number of injuries caused by falls.
Physiotherapist of the "West medic" Health Center Vladan Jovićević tells "Vreme" that a large number injured it is not unusual given the weather conditions and indicates that the range of injuries caused by falls or during snow removal is very wide.
"The most common are wrist fractures, hip fractures in the elderly, and spinal injuries such as whiplash, neck injuries, disc injuries due to sudden jerks and rotations, and possibly sprains and bruises of the shoulder and ankle, but these injuries are less common. Many injuries occur during snow removal when people injure their spine shoveling large amounts of snow." snow. If the body is not prepared for cleaning or pushing large amounts of snow, either old injuries can be activated or new disc injuries can appear," says Jovićević.
The most difficult situation for the elderly
He points out that the most difficult situation is, quite expectedly, among the oldest population where fractures are more common.
"Hip fractures are the most inconvenient, because the bone density in the elderly is reduced, so the recovery, i.e. the healing of the fracture, is debatable. In addition, in these cases, the elderly remain in bed for several months, which is very bad for their general health insurance condition, which is why operative treatment is undertaken in most such fractures, i.e. placing a prosthesis," says Jovićević.
He notes that the fractures were caused by falls on ice to some extent less common in more obese people and in those with thicker clothes or down jackets that partially protect them from injury.
He adds that a lot depends on what kind of surface someone falls on, i.e. whether it is a flat sidewalk or some ledges, bumps or stairs, because these other falls can cause very serious injuries.
Photo: Private archivePhysiotherapist Vladan Jovićević
You need to know how to fall.
Jovićević also points out that more serious injuries can be avoided if a person knows how to fall.
"If he already has to fall and can choose how to fall, the most painless thing is for a person, on the side of the body on which he falls, to extend his arm a little forward and to fall on his hip, practically on the upper leg, and not directly on the hip. Most often, the arm is reflexively thrust out, and that's where the fracture occurs, and on the hip, the person is usually well-dressed. It is also a larger surface compared to the hand, so that larger surface absorbs the impact a little," says Jovićević.
Jovićević advises elderly people, as well as all those who urgently have to go out on icy streets, to wear appropriate, good footwear.
"Good footwear is most important, with rubber, ribbed, softer soles that are not worn out. You should move more slowly, with short steps, and go along the walls of buildings wherever possible, and stick to the walls and gelders. Of course, you should look ahead and slow down whenever the ice melts," says Jovićević.
How to recognize a fracture
He emphasizes that, if a person does fall, he should try to recognize if he has broken something, and in that case, go to the emergency room as quickly as possible. health facility to record the injury and immobilize it.
"You should tap with your finger on the place where the pain is felt, on the bone itself. If that tapping increases the pain and if sharp pain is resonantly transmitted, it means that it is a sprain or fracture. The same applies if sharp pain appears when trying to move the injured part of the body," says Jovićević.
On the other hand, he emphasizes that in the case of sprains, bruises or dislocations, immobilization should not be done, because recovery is much faster if therapy is started immediately.
"In those cases, the joint should be returned to its normal position as soon as possible, either by orthopedics or chiropractic, and it should not be immobilized, but physical therapy should be included as soon as possible, and this should be done in the first 24 hours, and no later than 48 hours after the injury. If there is swelling, ice packs should be applied to it as soon as possible, every two hours for 10 minutes. If such an injury is neglected, people face long-term recovery, which is very risky for the elderly," warns Jovićević.
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