Can Senior Balance Exercises Help Osteoarthritis?

Senior Balance Exercises For Osteoarthritis

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

         Osteoarthritis is common among older adults and performing senior balance exercises is one key component of a medical program that can help with the effects of  limitations due to arthritis. Please see http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now Older adults often complain of knee pain due to osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis symptoms can vary greatly among patients. Symptoms include joint pain and stiffness, swelling, decreased function, poor balance, changes in gait and cracking or grinding noise with joint movement. Pain features are the pain itself, including its intensity, quality, and predictability as well as the pain’s impact on mobility, mood, and sleep. Symptoms usually start gradually in a prolonged history of discomfort associated with exacerbation.Symptoms are often variable in severity and change slowly.Some patients may indicate that pain and functional disability increased over time and have symptoms that may progress from occurring during weight-bearing activities towards symptoms at rest, especially at night. Others, however, may have their pain improved over the years (e.g., if more activities such as walking are being performed after retirement from sedentary work).Based on the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) evidence-based recommendations, typical symptoms of knee osteoarthritis are pain, often worse towards the end of the day, relieved by rest; feeling of ‘giving way’; only mild morning or inactivity stiffness and impaired function. In advanced cases, more persistent rest and night pain may occur. In adults aged >40 years with knee pain, there are only short-lived morning stiffness, functional limitation and one or more typical examination findings (crepitus, restricted movement, bony enlargement). Typically, the patient may grasp around the knee, indicating deep pain in the joint or bone. On physical examination, findings indicative of knee osteoarthritis include crepitus, painful and/or restricted movement, bony enlargement and absent or modest effusion. Other features may include deformity (fixed flexion and/or varus – less commonly valgus), instability, periarticular or joint-line tenderness and pain on patellofemoral compression. Accessory and physiological movement of the tibiofemoral, and possibly patellofemoral joint, may be pain provoking and restricted. Sensorimotor deficits and neuromuscular control changes can also occur in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Adopting pain-relieving postures and refrain from painful activity may be in part a conscious effort but also reflects the effect of joint afferents on motor reflexes. Inhibition of quadriceps muscle may result from reduced capacity of the muscle to contract due to pain and swelling. Proprioceptive deficits in osteoarthritic knees are bilateral in unilateral involvement, inferring central control mechanisms. Deficits in control of knee stabilizing muscles demonstrated in delay in activation occur as a result of pain. In general, the instability, weakness and changes in walking pattern that are seen with knee osteoarthritis leads to poor balance and a greater risk for falling. Consequently, it is highly recommended that individuals who start to experience symptoms that indicate the onset of osteoarthritis should begin a daily program of senior balance exercises.

Senior Balance Exercises

    Since osteoarthritic changes in a joint lead to weakness, pain, stiffness and poor balance, beginning a daily routine of senior balance exercises and strengthening exercises is essential to maintain function and mobility. One example of a leg strengthening routine that helps to build quadriceps muscle strength that is needed for going up and down stairs as well as getting up from a chair is to practice mini squats. In standing, position your feet shoulder width a part and slightly bend your knees up and down. Also, an appropriate equilibrium routine is to try to stand on one foot (near a counter or a table). In this single leg stance position, you will challenge the balance reactions at your feet and ankles, resulting in improved stability and a reduce risk of falling. You can practice these strengthening exercises and senior balance exercises in the convenience of your own home by following the direction of an experienced Physical Therapist in the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    Get a jump start on the pain and stiffness from osteoarthritis by beginning the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The professionally filmed Balance DVD is an exceptional tool to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to follow DVD is loaded 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 Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, steadiness 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

  Offset symptoms of arthritis by starting balance exercises today with the Exercise For Balance DVD to improve balance and prevent falls.
For more information see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health-information/