The last time you fell over
Discussion
I was watching my eight year old running about with his mates and it struck me how regularly you fall over when you're a kid. You fall over, get up, carry on. It's usually a non-event.
On the other hand, I recently saw a middle-aged bloke on a campsite trip over a guy rope and he went down like he'd been shot dead, hitting the ground with a massive thud with no instinctive response from his limbs to avoid a mouthful of mud.
It occurred to me that maybe falling over is just one of those skills we lose somewhere along the line and, as I approach my 40s, I'm wondering whether I need to practice
Ignoring times where its expected (e.g. playing football), I think the last time I fell over was about 6/7 years ago when we had that really cold winter. I went arse over tit on an icy pavement. Upright to flat on my back in a nanosecond but luckily no damage. I did then look up to see a Ford Transit with its wheels locked up sliding towards me, but thankfully he was only trying to stop to see if I was OK.
When was the last time you fell over unexpectedly, was it embarrassing and did it hurt?
On the other hand, I recently saw a middle-aged bloke on a campsite trip over a guy rope and he went down like he'd been shot dead, hitting the ground with a massive thud with no instinctive response from his limbs to avoid a mouthful of mud.
It occurred to me that maybe falling over is just one of those skills we lose somewhere along the line and, as I approach my 40s, I'm wondering whether I need to practice
Ignoring times where its expected (e.g. playing football), I think the last time I fell over was about 6/7 years ago when we had that really cold winter. I went arse over tit on an icy pavement. Upright to flat on my back in a nanosecond but luckily no damage. I did then look up to see a Ford Transit with its wheels locked up sliding towards me, but thankfully he was only trying to stop to see if I was OK.
When was the last time you fell over unexpectedly, was it embarrassing and did it hurt?
durbster said:
On the other hand, I recently saw a middle-aged bloke on a campsite trip over a guy rope and he went down like he'd been shot dead, hitting the ground with a massive thud with no instinctive response from his limbs to avoid a mouthful of mud.
This is exactly what happens. If you never fall over as a kid you never learn to put your arms out. 
Last year, I'm usually cat like on my feet, but a combination of painted white lines in a busy Sainsburys car park, smooth soled shoes, a bagful of heavy shopping and arctic temperatures got the better of me, I went down like a sack of potatoes.
Yes it hurt, my elbow was bleeding through my shirt and jacket, still got a scar as it was right on the bend of my elbow and took ages to heal, the bone hurt for a good few months afterwards too, no lasting damage though.
Yes it was embarrassing, lots of witnesses, shopping everywhere.
Definitely don't bounce like an 8yr old anymore that's for sure. Be careful out there folks.
Yes it hurt, my elbow was bleeding through my shirt and jacket, still got a scar as it was right on the bend of my elbow and took ages to heal, the bone hurt for a good few months afterwards too, no lasting damage though.
Yes it was embarrassing, lots of witnesses, shopping everywhere.
Definitely don't bounce like an 8yr old anymore that's for sure. Be careful out there folks.
It's something I'm mega aware of these days. I have pretty bad arthritis and uneven pavements, steps, leaves and now ice are a constant source of concern. My bigger issue isn't so much falling down, it's getting back up. Unless I had something or someone to grab I could be down a while, injured or not.
Did a dive- does that count a few weeks ago ?- my dogs lead snapped as I was pulling him away from the road - thus he shot forward towards the traffic. Just launched myself fully stretched out onto him - tore trousers and cut knee. dog was oblivious as to why this great oaf had squashed him into the pavement.
I fell over about 9wks ago while loading the car with stuff to go to the tip. I tripped / fell off a small step between my drive and path to the house.
Went over on my right ankle and it swelled pretty quick and went black etc. had to get it xrayed and it was soft tissue damage which is worse than a break to heal (upto 8weeks)
Went over on my right ankle and it swelled pretty quick and went black etc. had to get it xrayed and it was soft tissue damage which is worse than a break to heal (upto 8weeks)
king terrifying endeavour that is.Can't remember to be honest.
My wife fell over two years back, just before Christmas. Walking to the tube station to meet a friend for lunch, then bang! Quick as you like was on the ground.
Picked her up and she looked pretty pale. Sat down for a while, then went to a pharmacy as she didn't want 'the fuss' of an ambulance/hospital. Got a grippy thing and some pain killers and carried on to Hampstead for lunch.
She insisted she didn't need to go to hospital.
Next day it just ballooned and I took her to A&E. Wrist broken in three places so an emergency operation on Monday morning with pins and plates.
Nurses couldn't believe she'd just carried on the day after such a break.
She said that the wine had helped.
Very nasty though, and it can just happen so quickly.
My wife fell over two years back, just before Christmas. Walking to the tube station to meet a friend for lunch, then bang! Quick as you like was on the ground.
Picked her up and she looked pretty pale. Sat down for a while, then went to a pharmacy as she didn't want 'the fuss' of an ambulance/hospital. Got a grippy thing and some pain killers and carried on to Hampstead for lunch.
She insisted she didn't need to go to hospital.
Next day it just ballooned and I took her to A&E. Wrist broken in three places so an emergency operation on Monday morning with pins and plates.
Nurses couldn't believe she'd just carried on the day after such a break.
She said that the wine had helped.
Very nasty though, and it can just happen so quickly.
Our house has a gradient change of 2.5m from front to rear - with concrete set steps down the side/driveway. In a rush to get the kids bikes to the car; with a bike in each hand (held by the top tube) I tripped at the top, literally launched one bike down the drive, and did the 'longest fall' down the remaining steps landing in a heap beside the car with my right hand through the front wheel of the other bike.....
Both knees rashed; scuffed my ear on the side of the house and bruises the like of which I haven't seen since I stacked my BMX 30 yrs ago......
Completely failed to boss it out; but did impress on the kids:
'See! That's why we wear our helmets!!'
Weirdly; less than a week later I was at work in the workshop, I 'trotted' over to the MOT bay when someone wanted a hand with something, I went to step up onto the 4 post ramp (less than 150mm high), spooned the angle and my foot/ankle/leg slid out from underneath me and I ended in a crumpled heap on the floor, smashed my hand into the ramp, another bruised elbow and leg and much embarrassment; not sure which hurt more!!
I have never been a clumsy person - became paranoid I had issues for a bit......
Both knees rashed; scuffed my ear on the side of the house and bruises the like of which I haven't seen since I stacked my BMX 30 yrs ago......
Completely failed to boss it out; but did impress on the kids:
'See! That's why we wear our helmets!!'
Weirdly; less than a week later I was at work in the workshop, I 'trotted' over to the MOT bay when someone wanted a hand with something, I went to step up onto the 4 post ramp (less than 150mm high), spooned the angle and my foot/ankle/leg slid out from underneath me and I ended in a crumpled heap on the floor, smashed my hand into the ramp, another bruised elbow and leg and much embarrassment; not sure which hurt more!!
I have never been a clumsy person - became paranoid I had issues for a bit......
Walking down a customer's flat drive...God knows what I tripped over. Down I go. Handed on the packet of polos in my pocket and gave myself a dead leg and dented their car with my head...(they did see, check I was OK and didn't mind about the car as it was being scrapped!).
My pride hurt more than my head.
My pride hurt more than my head.
Yes, it's that first time you go down and it genuinely takes a minute or two to asses the situation and get yourself back up in your feet that you realise you must be getting older.
This usually coincides with the stage in your life when people stop saying that you 'fell over' and start saying 'had a fall' instead. One of those easy to miss mile stones in life, similar to when you notice people are talking to you more slowly and loudly, or stop asking your age at the ticket booth when you ask for a concession.
The first time I ever went down uncontrollably was as early as my undergraduate days when I lived on Uplands Terrace in Swansea, in a house only a few doors up the street from its junction with the main road to Sketty. In winter Swansea seems to hover between freeze and thaw, the ice on the roads and pavements partially melting during the day and freezing overnight to a glass like slickness. I reached the garden gate OK but when I stepped onto the pavement, which is quite steep, being Swansea, I went over and slid on my back all the way down to the corner. A little old lady was standing there, and sympathetically asked me if I was alright and assisted me to get up. The shock was that I actually needed the help.
A St. John's Ambulance driver at Rye House one day told me that kids were generally unharmed when they flipped out of their karts, as they instinctively go all limp and just fly through the air like a rag doll. It's as people get older that they start putting their arms out in front of them, and that's when the broken collar bones begin.
This usually coincides with the stage in your life when people stop saying that you 'fell over' and start saying 'had a fall' instead. One of those easy to miss mile stones in life, similar to when you notice people are talking to you more slowly and loudly, or stop asking your age at the ticket booth when you ask for a concession.
The first time I ever went down uncontrollably was as early as my undergraduate days when I lived on Uplands Terrace in Swansea, in a house only a few doors up the street from its junction with the main road to Sketty. In winter Swansea seems to hover between freeze and thaw, the ice on the roads and pavements partially melting during the day and freezing overnight to a glass like slickness. I reached the garden gate OK but when I stepped onto the pavement, which is quite steep, being Swansea, I went over and slid on my back all the way down to the corner. A little old lady was standing there, and sympathetically asked me if I was alright and assisted me to get up. The shock was that I actually needed the help.
A St. John's Ambulance driver at Rye House one day told me that kids were generally unharmed when they flipped out of their karts, as they instinctively go all limp and just fly through the air like a rag doll. It's as people get older that they start putting their arms out in front of them, and that's when the broken collar bones begin.
Meeting some mates at the pub, saw them sat in the garden so tried to hop effortlessly over a low wall. Misjudged it and clipped the edge, smashing my other shin directly into it and went arse over tip into the flower beds. I lay very still for a few seconds as I had completely done my back in very recently and was more concerned about that than the pain in my shin or the huge embarrassment.
Eventually picked myself up and limped to the table and sat down. Not one of the three of them got up from their seats, or offered the slightest bit of concern let alone sympathy. Which is of course, absolutely the correct approach in this situation
Eventually picked myself up and limped to the table and sat down. Not one of the three of them got up from their seats, or offered the slightest bit of concern let alone sympathy. Which is of course, absolutely the correct approach in this situation
<wonders about crossover between this thread and "how much do you drink?" thread>
You know you're getting old when it's not "You fell over, you clumsy muppet, ha!" and "Oooh, are you OK, dear? You had a fall... Sit there for a minute..."
Last time I went arse over tit was probably getting tangled in undergrowth, although I did manage to cock up jogging up some stairs in a shop a while back. Nothing hurt except pride.
Somehow surprisingly, I've managed to get to late 40s with only one lasting injury - an ankle that I buggered up ("probably" fractured, but the tendon damage was close to needing an op) nearly a decade and a half ago. In a beer tent. Late at night. Heading off for a pee, happy bouncy, and vaulted over a bench... only to roll three times on landing.
You know you're getting old when it's not "You fell over, you clumsy muppet, ha!" and "Oooh, are you OK, dear? You had a fall... Sit there for a minute..."
Last time I went arse over tit was probably getting tangled in undergrowth, although I did manage to cock up jogging up some stairs in a shop a while back. Nothing hurt except pride.
Somehow surprisingly, I've managed to get to late 40s with only one lasting injury - an ankle that I buggered up ("probably" fractured, but the tendon damage was close to needing an op) nearly a decade and a half ago. In a beer tent. Late at night. Heading off for a pee, happy bouncy, and vaulted over a bench... only to roll three times on landing.
Been a while since I actually went my length on the ground, but I've bashed myself up tripping over junk in my garage during the last week.
Though I've yet to beat the one from years ago when I stepped off an unseen ledge in the dark (took a step backwards to make room for someone) and dropped a few feet into a massive bush in the garden below. The funny bit was, because I didn't trip over anything or stumble, I just stepped out into empty space, it was a proper Del Boy falling through the bar job, I think my instinctive reaction was just to try and stay loose as I couldn't see what I was going to land on.
Though I've yet to beat the one from years ago when I stepped off an unseen ledge in the dark (took a step backwards to make room for someone) and dropped a few feet into a massive bush in the garden below. The funny bit was, because I didn't trip over anything or stumble, I just stepped out into empty space, it was a proper Del Boy falling through the bar job, I think my instinctive reaction was just to try and stay loose as I couldn't see what I was going to land on.
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