The right way to fall, according to science
BY THE EDITORS OF MEN’S HEALTH Wednesday, January 6, 2016, 3:40 pmFalling on your ass. In theory, it sounds hilarious. It’s the stuff of slapstick. And probably not something you’re all that worried about.You’re quick-footed, right? The only people who need to be nervous about falls are the feeble.Not so, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Their statistics estimate that about 25,000 injuries are caused by people taking a fall in the U.S. every day.Falls account for a staggering 35% of all work-related injuries, and 65% of all lost work days.In other words, you’re more likely to miss work this week because of taking a nose dive onto some pavement or ice than catching the flu.Related: How to Get Through the Flu Season without Taking a Single Sick Day Thurmon Lockhart, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering at Arizona State University, has devoted much of his career to studying human locomotion. He even helped design a slip-training program for UPS delivery drivers. He knows all about the right way to fall.And yes, there absolutely is a right way. Not all falls are the same, says Lockhart. If you manuever your body correctly, the only thing you’ll end up hurting is your ego. But fall the wrong way, and you could end up in the waiting room of an ER.
Follow these four rules, and increase your odds of having a safe landing.
1. Walk Like You’re on a Tightrope
Whether you’re traversing an icy parking lot or a slick office floor, your best defense against a fall is a good defense.
Make slow, short steps, and extend your arms out to your sides, like you’re walking across a tightrope.
Doing this helps maintain you balance, and it positions your arms closer to where they’ll need to be to save you if things go south. And speaking of . . .
2. Use Your Arms
Let’s say your feet slip and you begin falling backwards. You’re going to feel helpless, and your first instinct is probably to flail your arms wildly, looking for something to grab onto or to cushion your body.
You’ll have better luck with a more decisive move: Fling your arms forward and up, so your center of gravity moves forward. This may be enough to stabilize you.
If that doesn’t work, it’s time to . . .
3. Bring Your Arms to Your Side
Everything in your body will scream, ”Cushion the fall with your hands!” It’s a natural instinct to think you can somehow catch yourself before you hit the ground. Isn’t that what they do in all the martial arts movies?
You should resist that instinct. Instead, lower your arms to your sides. Especially if you’re falling backwards. That’s how guys end up breaking their wrists.
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If your arms are at your side, that’s what will hit the ground first, before your hips. And that’s exactly what you want.
Wrists and hips break far too easily. Your arms will fare much better, especially if you tense up before the impact. Tense muscles protect ligaments and bones.
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4. Try to Land on Your Butt
If you can help it, land flat on your rear.
And then, in a single, smooth motion, roll onto your hip—the one opposite your slipping leg—to help diffuse the force of the fall.
If you’re falling forward and there’s no way of directing your fall towards your ass, try to fall into a pushup position.
You’ll avoid a nasty head (or face) injury, and your bent elbows will reduce impact on your wrists.
Original Article: http://www.menshealth.com/health/right-way-to-fall