Statewide, Iowa (RI) – It may sound silly and look ridiculous, but experts say Iowans should consider walking like penguins when it’s this cold, snowy and icy to prevent falls.
That means taking short strides with deliberate steps, keeping your center of gravity over your feet and your arms out from your sides to maintain balance. Edison Weig, a physical therapist with Van Diest Medical Center in Webster City, says they see a lot of injuries from falls during the winter months.
Other injuries may range from broken arms and legs to back injuries and concussions, and one in every five falls results in a serious injury. Weig says one segment of the Iowa population is most at risk.
He says more than 75,000 Iowans were treated in emergency rooms last year for fall-related injuries.
KIWA Staff Photo
