Proper Falling Techniques to Prevent Injury

Falling is a major cause of injury. The severity can fluctuate between a small strain to serious injury, even death. While attempting to prevent falling is necessary, it is not always successful. This article will describe three different methods of falling to minimize injury.

There are many simple mistakes that people make in the moment of a fall. These are usually natural reactions that will cause more severe injury. For example, the natural reaction to falling is to put your arm out to stop your fall. Do not do this. You can break your arm or whatever limb you are using to break the fall. Your torso is much better equipped to handle the impact of a fall.

The concepts in this article are taken from falling tactics used in martial arts. They will take practice to perfect and use in an emergency situation. Before you continue this article, decide whether your body is strong enough to handle practicing these concepts. The reason these tactics are used in martial arts is because they minimize the impact of the fall. They should only be used when following the safety measures discussed in this article.

You will usually fall in one of three directions. The least injury is caused when falling on your side. It reduces the impact placed on your limbs, including your neck. This is the best way to fall safely. If you find yourself unbalanced and falling to either side tuck your chin to your chest. Then bend your arm to your chest. As you continue to fall let your bottom leg straighten. Keep your top leg bent to reduce impact. Keep your chin tucked to your chest at all times. Just before you reach the ground straighten the tucked arm level to your body. This position will cause the least impact on your body. Practice this a few times daily until you feel you are doing it correctly.

The next direction we fall in is forwards. You may injure your neck or face if you do not know how to fall properly. The first thing to do is tuck your chin to the bottom of your neck. Hold this throughout the fall. Then place both arms up at a ninety degree angle. They will absorb any impact that would injure your face. Then fall straight forward onto your torso. You may bend your knees but only slightly. You do not want any joint to absorb impact. Keep in mind if you fall on ice you may still suffer minor cuts and trauma. These falls should be practiced on a soft surface.

The last way to fall is straight onto your back. The most important thing is to always keep your chin tucked to your chest. The neck is one of the easiest injured body parts. It only takes ten pounds of force to cause fracture. You will also want to bend both arms onto your chest. Bend your knees if possible and let yourself fall back. At the point of impact let you arms loose to the side but even with your body.

Remember the key to success is practice. You will not be able to react properly without training your body for these situations. Never use an arm to prevent your fall. Always keep your chin tucked to your chest. In closing, do not be afraid of practicing these techniques. Falling is generally safe if done with the proper knowledge.