Reflexes And Senior Balance Exercises

Understanding Reflexes And Senior Balance Exercises

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

   Reflexes are a part of our natural movements and employing proper reflexive responses as well as  senior balance exercises help us stay stable and free from falling as we move. Please see  http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now  Reflexes come in many shapes and sizes. Reflexes can be detailed as flexor withdrawal reflexes, postural reflexes, extensor reflexes, monosynaptic reflexes and more. In simpler terms, you can think of reflexes as "Red Light" or "Green Light."

The Green Light Reflex

 The Green Light Reflex is the reflex involved in forward movement. All of the large muscles of the back contract to move you forward in walking, running and standing. The back muscles can learn to stay overly-contracted, pulling the back into an exaggerated arch. You can think of this reflex as an arching reflex, like a soldier at attention. When running for the train, sitting at the computer for many hours, picking up a child, or standing all day long, these "green light" muscles are working to help you "get the job done." If this reflexive response to stress becomes habituated, conditions such as herniated disks, neck pain, shoulder pain, and sciatica can develop.

The Red Light Reflex

The Red Light Reflex, more commonly known as the Startle Response, involves the muscles on the front of the body, which tighten to pull you forward. This "slumping reflex" presents itself with rounded shoulders, depressed chest and the head jutting forward. It is a protective reflex found in all vertebrate animals and is a response to fear, anxiety, prolonged distress or negativity. A loud noise, unexpected sound or emotional trauma (or long hours hunched over the computer) can cause the muscles of the front of the body to contract suddenly as the body pulls inward in a slumping posture. An habituated Red Light Reflex can lead to chronic neck pain, jaw pain (as with TMJ), a “widow’s hump," hip pain, mid-back pain and shallow breathing. The inability to breathe deeply deprives your brain, blood and muscles of the oxygen they need to function properly. This in turn can cause fatigue, depression, anxiety, sleep problems and exacerbate allergies. In light of balance abilities, over activity of either of these Red Light or Green Light Reflexes can lead to muscle imbalance, poor posture, imbalance and a greater risk for falling. As a result, it is critical to practice senior balance exercises to help moderate these reflexes and maintain adequate steadiness with movement activities.

Senior Balance Exercises Imbalance Due To Reflexes

    To move with needed stability, combine enhancing steadiness with a daily program of  senior balance exercises. Especially for those folks who seem to spend most of their movement time in patterns of Green Light or Red Light reflexes, it is essential to balance those movements with certain equilibrium routines. You can learn proper senior balance exercises by following the direction of a qualified Physical therapist in the exercise for balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    To moderate various reflexive movement patterns,  initiate a program of the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The healthcare professional recommended Exercise For Balance DVD is an excellent educational DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to understand and to follow Exercise For Balance DVD includes  a step by step series of up to date balance and strength exercises necessary to optimize senior fitness and to perform basic daily activities like shopping, doing laundry,  walking, standing, cleaning house, stair climbing or to advance to more difficult activities like skiing, dancing, bocce ball and hiking. In the  comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve stability, steadiness techniques and balance routines from a  qualified balance specialist --- licensed Physical Therapist---who has worked with balance and dizziness disorders for over 25 years. Get your copy of the Exercise For Balance DVD by clicking on the BUY NOW button

 Move safely 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/