IF YOU'RE getting into the garden this weekend, take extra care for your face.
New research from Detroit's Wayne State University School of Medicine shows older adults taking part in activities like gardening or cycling are at risk of getting a facial fracture.
The four year study focused on over 55s who presented to American emergency departments with facial injuries caused by recreational activities.
Bicycling, team sports such as baseball and softball, gardening and outdoor activities like hiking and fishing were the most common causes of facial fractures.
Walking and jogging also accounted for 5.5 per cent of injuries.
The study also found men and women injured themselves differently. More men (35.7 per cent compared to 14.9 per cent) were hurt cycling while more women (15.5 per cent compared to 6.1 per cent) got fractures in the garden."Although injuries associated with more energetic and vigorous activities were more common overall, physicians should be aware that even activities
"Although injuries associated with more energetic and vigorous activities were more common overall, physicians should be aware that even activities characterised as having low risk such as gardening and walking still carry potential for trauma and facial fractures in this older patient population," the authors wrote.
The study was published by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
