Posture. Sit and stand tall, avoiding any slouching when you're standing, walking or sitting at a desk. Instead, keep your head erect and your eyes forward. Lift your breastbone and keep your shoulders back, lightly "pinching" your shoulder blades. Tighten your abdominal muscles and buttocks. Also make sure you bend from the hips and bones, not the waist, especially when lifting. And, to quote an old cowboy: don't make any sudden moves. It might throw you off balance.

Shoes. Choose shoes with rough or rubber soles, not slippery or smooth ones.

Hip pads. One of the best tools for reducing hip fractures is hip protectors, kind of like helmets for hips. Clinical trials find these padded undergarments (pads on the hips, of course) are 95 percent effective at preventing hip fractures during falls. The brand used most often in most clinical trials is Hip Saver, available at www.hipsaver.com, or by calling 800-358-4477.