Pope Francis injured his right arm after suffering a fall earlier this week. According to the Vatican, while the 88-year-old pontiff did not break his arm, a sling was put on as a precaution. This incident comes just weeks after another fall on December 7, where he hit his chin on a nightstand, resulting in another, visible bruise. The pope's health has been a topic of ongoing speculation due to his age and medical history, which includes long bouts of bronchitis and mobility challenges. Often seen using a wheelchair or a cane, Francis also uses a walker within the Vatican's Santa Marta hotel, where he resides. Notably, his frailty has brought renewed attention to the risks of falls among elderly individuals and the steps one must follow to mitigate such falls.

Preventive Measures For Bone Health

A study published in Frontiers in Aging Neurosciences people get older, the bone density in the lower back and thigh bone decreases significantly. This raises the risk of osteoporosis (OP). Therefore it becomes pivotal to pay early attention to nutrition, exercise ability, vitamin D levels, and uric acid levels in older individuals to prevent Ostreopsis and mitigate fall risks. The risk of falls and bone injuries among elderly individuals underscores the importance of preventive measures for maintaining bone health and minimizing fall risks.

Elderly, particularly menopausal women, require a daily calcium intake of 1,200 mg, divided into two or more doses. This can be achieved through dietary sources such as dairy and non-dairy products or through supplements like calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. However, total daily calcium intake should not exceed 2,500 mg to avoid potential health risks.

Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption and bone mineralization. While sunlight exposure helps synthesize vitamin D, older individuals often require supplements due to reduced skin synthesis and the limited availability of foods. Fortified milk and supplements containing 200–600 IU of vitamin D daily are recommended, with higher doses required for those with deficiencies. Severe cases may necessitate high-dose treatments, such as 50,000 IU weekly for up to three months, along with regular monitoring of calcium and vitamin D levels.

Regular exercise is vital for preserving bone mass and reducing fall risk. Weight-bearing activities, strength training, and balance exercises like brisk walking or skipping can enhance bone density and improve coordination. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, supplemented by strength training twice weekly. For individuals unable to engage in standard exercise routines, alternatives like vibrating platforms may help maintain bone health.

Falls remain a leading cause of fractures among individuals over 60. Addressing contributing factors such as balance issues, vision problems, and environmental hazards can significantly reduce risks. Preventive measures include regular vision checks, minimizing medications causing dizziness, improving home safety (e.g., installing railings and removing loose rugs), and wearing rubber-soled footwear. Hip protectors may also help mitigate the impact of falls.

Every year on October 16, World Spine Day is observed. The spine is the backbone of a human, and takes care of a lot of things including movement, posture, and overall well-being. However, spinal conditions are often ignored, and with the rise of sedentary lifestyle, spinal posture is severely affected. To address these issues, World Spine Day was introduced.

World Spine Day 2025 Theme

The theme for World Spine Day 2025 is 'Invest in Your Spine'. This highlights the need to prioritize spinal health through preventive care, rehabilitation, and supportive workplace and lifestyle practices.

This day also encourages individuals to take simple steps, but stay consistent in maintaining proper posture, exercising regularly, and following ergonomic habits at work.

The theme also calls for policy makers to strengthen access to rehabilitation and education programmes, and ensure that spine care becomes an integral part of the public health sphere.

World Spine Day Origin

World Spine Day was originated in 2012. This is when the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) launched the day to raise awareness about spinal health and disorder. The first theme was 'Straighten Up and Move'.

This initiative also evolved into a global event with participation from health organizations and communities worldwide to promote spine health and prevent back pain. As even doctors note that most of the spinal injuries are preventable.

Significance of World Spine Day

This day aims at raising awareness about common spine problems, including back pain, scoliosis, and slipped discs. It may come as a surprise to many but in 2020, low back pain (LBP) affected 619 million people globally. LBP is also the single leading cause of disability worldwide, and the same condition that can be prevented or people may benefit form rehabilitation.

Most spinal injuries and issues could be experienced at any age, thanks to the sedentary lifestyle and bad posture. However, the age prevalence increases among the people up to 80, with the mean age at 50-55. LBP is also said to be more common in women.

What Are The Common Spinal Problems That Affect People?

Low Back Pain

Low back pain remains one of the most common reasons for missed work and a decline in daily comfort. Long hours of sitting, poor posture, and improper lifting can strain the spine and its supporting muscles, leading to stiffness, fatigue, and persistent discomfort.

Scoliosis and Other Spinal Deformities

Scoliosis refers to an abnormal sideways curvature of the spine, often developing during childhood or teenage years. While mild cases may cause little to no symptoms, severe curvature can interfere with posture, lung function, and movement, making early diagnosis and treatment essential.

Herniated or Slip Disc

A herniated or “slipped” disc happens when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through a tear in its tougher outer layer. This pressure on surrounding nerves can lead to intense pain, tingling, or muscle weakness, particularly in the lower back, buttocks, and legs.

Sir Bradley Wiggins CBE, a legend really. He is Britain’s cycling icon and the first Briton to win the Tour de France, was once the face of national pride. His victories at the 2012 Olympics turned him into a symbol of discipline and determination. But behind the gold medals and charming public persona was a man quietly sinking into trauma, addiction, and self-destruction.

“I wasn’t on cocaine the first time we met,” Wiggins recalls in a recent interview with Time. “But I was the night before.”

The admission marks how far one of Britain’s most celebrated athletes had fallen, and how complex the relationship can be between success, trauma, and mental health.

The Trauma No One Talks About

Wiggins’ journey into darkness began long before the drugs. As a teenager, he was sexually abused by his cycling coach, Stan Knight. From ages 13 to 16, what began as “training guidance” turned into years of manipulation and assault.

“He’d tell me it was for sport, that men shower together,” Wiggins said. “He’d demonstrate how to clean myself, touch me, show me what to do. That’s how it started.”

For decades, he buried those memories under medals and fame. Speaking about them for the first time in 2023 was both liberating and devastating. “It just poured out,” he said. “I’d never told anyone. When I finally did, I broke down for an hour after reading it.”

The confession triggered others to come forward—four men who said they too had been abused by Knight. It became a small but powerful #MeToo moment within British cycling.

The Descent into Addiction

Retirement from cycling should have been peaceful. Instead, it exposed the emotional void that sport had masked for decades. Wiggins turned to cocaine, a habit that spiralled rapidly.

“I was high most of the time for years,” he admitted. What began as occasional use became constant dependence. He isolated himself in hotel rooms for days, sometimes weeks. “My ex-wife, Cath, came to find me once. She said, ‘You’re going to die, Brad.’ She found 120 empty Covid-test tubes filled with cocaine residue in an Aesop bag.”

At his lowest, he ran out of money and slept on park benches. “Clapham Common. It was scary,” he said quietly. “I don’t know how I didn’t die.”

Addiction research shows that unresolved trauma dramatically increases the risk of substance use. According to mental-health experts, drugs often serve as a way to numb pain or silence intrusive memories. Wiggins’ story mirrors that pattern, a man trying to escape the ghosts of childhood abuse and the pressure of public perfection.

Hitting Rock Bottom and Finding Help

His turning point came in 2023 after a desperate plea to his son Ben, himself a cyclist. “I sent him a video, crying. I didn’t think he’d judge me. He never does.” Soon after, fellow cyclist Lance Armstrong flew him to the U.S., helped him enter rehab, and encouraged him to face his addiction head-on.

Now a year sober, Wiggins attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings and follows a strict recovery plan. He’s in what the program calls the “accountability phase,” learning to apologise, rebuild relationships, and stay honest. “I wanted to tell my story myself, good and bad,” he says.

What Happens In Childhood, Continues To Be With You

Wiggins’ memoir, The Chain, reveals how deeply abandonment shaped him. His father, Gary Wiggins, an Australian cyclist, left when Bradley was 18 months old. “I took up cycling to feel close to him,” he admits. The two met briefly when Bradley was 19, before his father’s death in 2008 after a violent assault.

Without a stable father figure, the young Wiggins was vulnerable—an easy target for a predatory coach who offered validation disguised as mentorship. “I was lonely,” he says simply. “It was really lonely.”

Even now, the emotional scars are deep. “There’s shame attached to it,” he admits. “It’s emasculating.”

Shame is a common barrier for abuse survivors, often delaying disclosure and healing. According to mental-health research, shame distorts self-perception and drives many into self-punishment through addiction or risky behavior.

“I never wanted to come across as a victim,” Wiggins insists. “I’m a victim of my own choices.” Yet, slowly, he’s learning self-compassion. “I don’t hate myself anymore,” he says. “I don’t know if I love myself yet—but I’m getting there.”

The Ongoing Recovery

Wiggins’ recovery revolves around structure, the same discipline that once fuelled his athletic career. His day begins at 6:15 a.m.; he makes his bed, exercises, tracks his sleep and nutrition using an Oura ring, and avoids alcohol entirely.

“I live like a professional athlete again,” he says. “If I drink, it might lead me back to cocaine. I can’t risk that.”

Physical activity, experts note, can play a crucial role in addiction recovery. Exercise stimulates endorphins, reduces cravings, and helps re-establish healthy routines. “Gym and cycling keep me sane,” Wiggins says. “That sense of freedom I had as a kid—it’s back.”

Today, Wiggins lives in Balham, south London. He co-parents his five-year-old daughter Ava and has repaired his relationship with his older children, Ben and Bella. “Taking Ava to school every morning is my daily joy,” he says.

He’s no longer homeless, no longer bankrupt, and has started speaking openly about mental health. “I thought about becoming a therapist one day,” he says, laughing. “I’ll probably need more therapy first.”

A resident of New York has tested positive for the chikungunya virus, marking the first local transmission of the mosquito-borne illness in the United States in six years, according to state health officials. The New York State Department of Health confirmed Tuesday that the case was detected in a person from Nassau County, Long Island.

The county’s health department stated that the individual began showing symptoms in August after traveling outside the region but not leaving the country. Officials have not disclosed the person’s identity or the exact source of infection.

What Is Chikungunya?

Chikungunya (CHIKV) is a viral disease spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Infection occurs when a mosquito carrying the virus bites a person. It does not spread from one person to another through touch, saliva, or airborne particles, although transmission through blood is possible in rare cases.

The illness is known for causing high fever and severe joint pain, often intense enough to affect mobility. The name “chikungunya” originates from a word meaning “that which bends up,” describing the stooped posture people often develop due to the pain. There is currently no antiviral treatment for the infection, and care mainly focuses on relieving symptoms. Most individuals recover within a week, though some experience lingering joint discomfort for weeks or months.

What Are The Symptoms Of Chikungunya?

Symptoms typically appear three to seven days after an infected mosquito bite, though in some cases they can develop as early as two days or as late as 12. The most common symptoms are fever and joint pain, which may be mild for some but extremely painful for others. The fever often starts suddenly, and some people mistake their symptoms for another illness or may not seek medical attention.

Other signs of chikungunya include:

• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Joint swelling
• Rash
• Fatigue
• Nausea

Is Chikungunya Contagious?

The virus spreads only through the bite of an infected mosquito. A person with chikungunya cannot pass the virus directly to another person through saliva, touch, or respiratory droplets. The risk of transmission to another mosquito is highest during the first week of symptoms, when the virus is present in the blood.

While New York has recorded three other cases of chikungunya earlier this year, all were linked to international travel. Local mosquitoes, however, are capable of carrying and spreading other viruses such as West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Jamestown Canyon virus.