Senior Balance Exercises And Very Slow Walking

Senior Balance Exercises For Slow Walkers

By Suzanne Stoke, Physical Therapist @ Exercise For Balance via www.exerciseforbalance.com

Practicing senior balance exercises can be vitally important for older adults to assist in balance abilities and to diminish the possibility of falling while walking. Please see   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now You may be a slow walker or you may know a loved one or neighbor who walks very slowly. Healthcare workers have recently completed research on older individuals who walk at a slower pace and who are subsequently at a higher risk for falling. Karen Jansen et al., in their study, How gravity and muscle action control mediolateral center of mass excursion during slow walking, investigated deficits in balance with slow walking speeds. They found maintaining mediolateral balance is very important to prevent falling during walking, especially at very slow speeds. Additionally, they reported that  the gluteus medius muscle contributions to mediolateral stability decreases, while its contributions to sagittal plane accelerations increase during very slow compared to normal walking. Simultaneously the destabilizing influence of gravity increases in mediolateral direction at a very slow walking speed. This emphasizes the need for a tight balance between gravity and gluteus medius action to ensure mediolateral stability. In summary, when individuals walk at a slower pace, they are more likely to fall side to side and be at risk for injuring themselves. Consequently, performing senior balance exercises every day is critical, especially for those slow walkers.

Senior Balance Exercises For Slow Pace Walkers

For individuals who walk at a very slow pace, practicing senior balance exercises is critically important. Since medical researchers have proven that slow walkers are at a greater risk for falling sideways, performing stability exercises is essential. One equilibrium routine that you can practice is standing with your feet lined up heel to toe. In this position, the balance reactions at the feet and ankles are forced to work harder, increasing the speed and strength of balance reactions. Additionally, your balance program can be advanced by trying to walk along a line heel to toe ( near a counter or table for extra support). As you practice these stability exercises, your steadiness will improve and you can increase the speed of walking to a more safe pace. You can practice these senior balance exercises with instruction from a knowledgeable physical therapist with the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    For those slow walkers out there, I highly encourage you to begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The Balance DVD is an easy tool to use at home or in a group setting. The DVD is complete with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like dancing and hiking. In the up-to-date Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, balance techniques and balance routines from a balance trainer ---licensed Physical Therapist--- who has worked with balance and dizziness disorders for over 20 years. Get your copy of the Exercise For Balance DVD by clicking on the BUY NOW button

Medical researchers agree that you should start balance exercises today with the Exercise For Balance DVD to improve balance and prevent falls.
For more information see www.nihseniorhealth.gov