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One in Three Over 65 Will Fall This Year. Croquet will reduce your chances.
One in three Australians over 65 falls every year. Group-based balance activities reduce that risk by up to 64%. Croquet might be your answer.
You know someone who's had a fall. Maybe it was a parent, a friend, a neighbour. One moment they were fine. The next, they were in hospital with a broken hip.
Falls change everything. They take away independence. They take away confidence. And once you've had one, you're more likely to have another.
Here's what most people don't realise: falls aren't random bad luck. They're predictable. And they're preventable.
The research is clear
A major international study published in The Lancet Public Health reviewed dozens of studies and found a direct link between daily movement and fall risk.
"Compared with 2000 steps per day, 7000 steps per day was associated with a 28% lower risk of falls."
But it's not just about walking more. Group-based balance programs reduce fall risk by 40 to 64 percent. That's not a small improvement. That's the difference between staying on your feet and ending up in a hospital bed.
Why croquet works
Croquet ticks every box that fall prevention research points to:
- Uneven surface: A lawn isn't a footpath. Every step requires small adjustments. Your ankles, legs and core are constantly working to keep you stable.
- Bending and reaching: Placing your ball, picking it up, crouching to check a line. These movements build the strength you need to recover when you stumble.
- Low impact: No jarring. No sudden twisting. No running. Your joints aren't punished for showing up.
- Regular commitment: A Tuesday afternoon game, every week, all year. That consistency matters more than occasional intense exercise.
Most people who start croquet aren't thinking about fall prevention. They're thinking about having something to do, meeting people, getting outside. The balance training happens without you noticing.
The numbers
One in three Australians over 65 falls every year. Falls cause 77 percent of all injury-related hospital admissions for older people. The average hospital stay is nearly ten days.
Those aren't just statistics. That's your neighbour waiting months for a hip replacement. That's your friend who never quite got back to normal.
The Queensland population over 65 is growing at 3.7 percent annually. Falls cost the Australian health system close to five billion dollars a year. That cost is going up.
An invitation
If you've noticed you're a bit less steady than you used to be, or you're worried about what might happen if you trip, croquet might be worth a look.
It's not a medical treatment. It's an afternoon on a lawn with people who'll remember your name. The balance training is just what happens while you're there.
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