While you may take great pride in your ability to take care of things around the house, be careful when it comes to using a chainsaw as you age. Unlike other powered lawn equipment, chainsaws carry a significant risk of personal injury— and can be deadly in the wrong hands.

A head, learn how to evaluate when you may be too old to operate a chainsaw and should call in a pro instead, with help from physical therapist Dr. Ron Miller and manual therapist Doug Bertram.

Risks of Using a Chainsaw as You Age

Chainsaw injuries can happen in a fraction of a second and are often due to losing control of the saw during operation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports roughly 36,000 chainsaw injuries each year, resulting in serious lacerations, traumatic brain injuries, limb loss or death.

While chainsaws are dangerous to operate at any age, the risks are even higher for older adults.…