Senior Balance Exercises And Recovery From Hip Fractures

Senior Balance Exercises And Post Hip Fracture Status

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

Rehearsing senior balance exercises is critical following a hip fracture and common total hip replacement surgery. Please see  http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now. Unfortunately, falls and hip fractures are very common among seniors. Medical professionals predict that one in three seniors fall every year, resulting in about twenty million falls among the elderly each year. Additionally, a hip fracture is the most common injury from a fall for older adults. Hip fractures usually result in a total hip replacement surgery as well as time in an assisted care facility, rehabilitation, outpatient Physical Therapy and endless doctors appointments. The cost of a fall and fractured hip is extensive. Furthermore, medical researchers have determined that the recovery from a fall and a hip fracture can take up to a year.

Senior Balance Exercises To Reduce Falls

Practicing senior balance exercises on a daily basis is the best way to avoid falling and fracturing a hip. Researchers have investigated the recovery time for seniors to bounce back from a hip fracture. In a recent article, Recovery From Hip Fracture in Eight Areas of Function,  the researchers looked at the time it takes to return to normal levels of activity following a hip fracture. Their information includes:

Background. This report describes changes in eight areas of functioning after a hip fracture, identifies the point at which maximal levels of recovery are reached in each area, and evaluates the sequence of recuperation across multiple functional domains.

Methods. Community-residing hip fracture patients (n = 674) admitted to eight hospitals in Baltimore, Maryland, 1990–1991, were followed prospectively for 2 years from the time of hospitalization. Eight areas of function (i.e., upper and lower extremity physical and instrumental activities of daily living; gait and balance; social, cognitive, and affective function) were measured by personal interview and direct observation during hospitalization at 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Levels of recovery are described in each area, and time to reach maximal recovery was estimated using Generalized Estimating Equations and longitudinal data.

Results. Most areas of functioning showed progressive lessening of dependence over the first postfracture year, with different levels of recovery and time to maximum levels observed for each area. New dependency in physical and instrumental tasks for those not requiring equipment or human assistance prefracture ranged from as low as 20.3% for putting on pants to as high as 89.9% for climbing five stairs. Recuperation times were specific to area of function, ranging from approximately 4 months for depressive symptoms (3.9 months), upper extremity function (4.3 months), and cognition (4.4 months) to almost a year for lower extremity function (11.2 months).

Conclusions. Functional disability following hip fracture is significant, patterns of recovery differ by area of function, and there appears to be an orderly sequence by which areas of function reach their maximal levels.

    This article explains that it takes a long time for seniors to get back their original level of function after a fall and a hip fracture. Consequently, performing stability exercises is essential for older adults to keep them from falling in the first place and to improve their equilibrium and safety for after an injury. Now, you can practice a senior balance exercise program developed by an experienced Physical Therapist with the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    To keep from falling and fracturing a hip, begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The Balance DVD is wonderfully simple to use at home or in a group setting. The DVD comes complete with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior safety 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, 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

Don't fall and break a hip. Instead, start 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/