Different Gait Patterns Need Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises Help Different Balance Problems

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

   Staying steady with walking is an important goal for many older individuals and performing senior balance exercises on a daily basis can help make those goals happen. Please see   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now As people age, they can fall into several noticeable categories of balance problems, especially with gait. Here are a few examples of walking disorders:

-Hemiparetic gait: Weakness on the affected side; hyperreflexia; extensor plantar response; flexed arm  and Extension and circumduction of 1 leg

-Paraparetic gait: Bilateral leg weakness, hyperreflexia, spasticity, and extensor plantar responses  and Stiffness, extension, adduction, and scissoring of both legs

-Steppage gait: Atrophy of distal leg muscles; decreased ankle reflex; possible sensory loss and Weakness of foot dorsiflexors; foot-drop; excessive flexion of hips and knees when walking; short strides; unilateral or bilateral

-Apraxic gait: Hypokinesia; muscular rigidity; grasp reflexes; possible resting tremor, dementia, or urinary incontinence and Difficulty initiating a step; freezing; feet almost stuck to floor; turn hesitation; shuffling gait

-Ataxic gait: Dysmetria; dysdiadochokinesia; tremor; postural instability and wide-based gait; incoordination; staggering; decomposition of movements

    The good news is that for aging individuals who have any of these or other gait deficits, practicing senior balance exercises as part of a daily routine of fitness can both improve balance and diminish the possibility of a fall and injury.

 

Senior Balance Exercises For Better Walking

   For older adults who have been diagnosed with specific gait disturbances like shuffling, steppage, hemiparetic, apraxic, ataxic or other problems, there is hope that performing senior balance exercises every day can enhance stability and reduce the risk of falling. AS AN EXAMPLE, FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO TEND TO HAVE ONE SIDED ARM AND LEG WEAKNESS WITH A HEMIPARETIC GAIT, PRACTICING STANDING WEIGHT SHIFTING ROUTINES IS ESSENTIAL. those INDIVIDUALS CAN STAND NEAR A COUNTER OR TABLE AND HOLD ON AS NEEDED. next, THEY CAN CENTER THEIR BODY WEIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BASE OF SUPPORT OUTLINED BY THEIR FEET. finally, THEY CAN PRACTICE CONTROLLING SHIFTING THEIR BODY WEIGHT BY SLOWIY LEANING FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARD, WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR BALANCE. tHESE STABILITY TECHNIQUES AND OTHER SPECIFIC SENIOR BALANCE EXERCISES CAN BE PRACTICED EVERY DAY BY FOLLOWING THE DIRECTION OF A KNOWLEDGEABLE pHYSICAL tHERAPIST IN THE eXERCISE fOR bALANCE dvd.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    For anyone who experiences difficulties with walking, please begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The Exercise For Balance DVD is a comprehensive instructional tool to use at home or in a group setting. The Exercise For Balance DVD is stacked with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like walking, standing, cleaning house, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like dancing, playing pickle ball and hiking. In the Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, steadiness techniques and balance routines from a balance instructor --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

  Be steady on your feet by starting balance exercises today with the Exercise For Balance DVD to improve balance and prevent falls.
For more information www.nih.gov