Arthritis Osteoarthritis Support & Coping Elderly Falls Tied to Canes and Walkers Tips for Safe Use By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice LinkedIn Twitter Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis." Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 25, 2022 Medically reviewed by Marissa Sansone, MD Medically reviewed by Marissa Sansone, MD LinkedIn Marissa Sansone, MD, is a board-certified doctor of internal medicine and a current fellow in rheumatology at Yale University. She actively teaches rheumatology to medical residents and students, and peer-reviews abstracts in the journal Rheumatology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print More than 47,000 elderly falls occur in America each year that result in emergency room visits. Data from 2001 to 2006 shows that 129 Americans older than 65 were treated each day in emergency rooms for injuries resulting from falls using walkers and canes. Of the falls related to walkers and canes, you may be surprised to learn that most—87% of elderly falls—were attributable to walker use. Serge Vuillermoz / EyeEm / Getty Images Walkers Involved in More Falls Than Canes People were 7 times more likely to be injured by a fall when using a walker rather than a cane. Seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Further study is needed, but it could be that people who use walkers and canes are more fragile and therefore more likely to fall than those who don't use them. Approximately 78% of walker-related injuries and 66% of cane-related injuries happened to women. Clearly, walkers and canes are walking aids that are important for elderly people to maintain their mobility—and independence. But the proper and safe use of mobility aids is essential. Otherwise, falls can have severe health consequences. The Magnitude of the Problem There were other interesting findings in the CDC report that highlight the significance of the problem: The chance of sustaining a fall, among those who used walkers or canes, increased with age, with the highest rate among people 85 and older.Fractures were the most common injury associated with falls, and a third involved the lower trunk (i.e., hip, pelvis).More than half of the elderly fall injuries occurred at home.One in three people whose fall occurred with a walker and more than one in four whose fall occurred while using a cane had to be hospitalized. The problem is very real. And the solution, somewhat obvious. People over 65 years old should: start a regular exercise program review medications with their doctor have regular eye checkups make their home environment as safe as possible It's important to choose a cane or walker that suits you in terms of design, fit, and feel. It's equally important to learn how to use your cane or walker properly—with the help of a physical therapist or other medical professional. Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 47,000 Older Adults Treated in Emergency Departments Annually for Fall Injuries Related to Walkers and Canes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 29, 2009. By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice is a writer who covers arthritis and chronic illness. She is the author of "The Everything Health Guide to Arthritis." See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit