Flutter to the ground like a snowflake.

• Position: Winter Falls

If you are going to fall, do it like a snowflake, advises Michelle Miller, an exercise physiologist at Indiana University's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Bloomington, and an American College of Sports Medicine-certified exercise specialist. Avoiding falls on the ice and snow involves some "mental preparation" in addison to some "purposeful movement," she indicates.

Miller has designed 14-week balance courses and is involved in balance-related research. Falling in the ice and snow is not just a concern for the elderly, she notes. "Realistically, it's an issue for people big and small, and young and old simply because our bodies attempt to react to the unexpected.

"A big key is being aware of your surroundings. We all need to learn to plan some of our movements better." Choosing to walk directly in the snow, for example, might provide better traction than walking on an icy sidewalk.

"When people park cars, they need to consider before they park what the surface area is like between the parking space and where they're going. Does it have ice, snow, standing water? Will they be stepping up and down or over curbs or other obstacles in their path? "With dim lighting, we don't see these things well, and they can be slick."

Many people end up breaking bones or getting more severely injured because they attempt to break their falls. "I tell people, if you're going to fall, you need to just let the body relax; be a snowflake and float lightly to the ground," Miller suggests. This could leave someone wet and...