Don't fall for hip fractures

Take every precaution to avoid falls—the leading cause of hip fractures.

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Here is an alarming reality: if you ever suffer from a hip fracture, the odds of returning to your previous active life are greatly reduced.

A study published online Sept. 7, 2016, by the Journal of General Internal Medicine suggests that half of all people older than 65 who fracture a hip will never be as physically active and independent as before the injury, and most will have trouble with everyday tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom.