3 Balance Exercises For Stenosis

Senior Balance Exercises For Spinal Stenosis

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

   Spinal stenosis is a common condition among aging individuals which can effect stability and require consistent practice of senior balance exercises. Please see more information at   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now According to medical professionals, Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal. The spinal canal is located within the backbone, surrounded by boney vertebrae. The spinal canal is a small space that holds the nerve roots and spinal cord. If this space becomes smaller, it can squeeze the nerves and the spinal cord. This compression on the spinal cord causes pain and other symptoms like numbness and tingling. Stenosis can occur anywhere along the spinal cord. spinal stenosis is most commonly diagnosed in the low back (lumbar) region. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is aging, but other factors can stimulate it including:

-Osteoarthritis and bone spurs in the vertebrae

-Rheumatoid Arthritis

-Spinal tumors

-Trauma

-Previous back surgery

  Symptoms of spinal stenosis in older adults include:

• Numbness, weakness, cramping, or pain in the legs and thighs

• Radiating pain down the leg

• Abnormal bowel and/or bladder function

• Decreased sensation in the feet causing difficulty placing the feet when walking

• Loss of sexual function

• Partial or complete paralysis of legs

  Spinal stenosis can be diagnosed by your doctor who will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

  Tests may include:

  • X-ray —a test that uses radiation to take pictures of structures inside the body; in this case, to check for abnormalities in the bones of the back including osteoarthritis, bone spurs, and obvious narrowing of the spinal canal

  • CT scan —a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the bony architecture of the back, which helps to evaluate the spinal canal

  • MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of soft tissue, such as the spinal cord and the spinal nerves inside the back

        In the meantime, if you feel like you have some of the symptoms of spinal stenosis, it is imperative to start practicing senior balance exercises to help develop adequate steadiness and avoid a fall.

3 Senior Balance Exercises

       For those diagnosed with spinal stenosis, you can help improve your steadiness by practicing senior balance exercises on a regular basis. There are many equilibrium routines that you can perform in the comfort of your own home. However, here are three suggestions of steadiness routines to practice on a daily basis.

1– single leg standing: with single leg standing you can stand near a sink or counter or stable object on one leg for 20 seconds and repeat three times on each leg.

 2 – tandem standing: for tandem standing, you can stand with 1 foot directly behind the other foot along the line for 20 seconds three times and then switch your feet with the other foot in front for 20 seconds three times.

3– tandem walking: with tandem walking you can practice walking down a hallway along the line with 1 foot touching the other foot in a heel to toe fashion. You can learn how to perform these senior balance exercises and other equilibrium routines that will help you improve your stability and minimize the effects of numbness in your feet due to spinal stenosis by following the direction of a knowledgeable physical therapist in the exercise for balance DVD.

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Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

Learn balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD

    For those with numbness in their feet from spinal stenosis, it is recommended that you get started on a course of the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The healthcare provider recommended Exercise For Balance DVD is a high quality instructional DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to understand and simple to follow Exercise For Balance DVD includes  a step by step series of the latest balance and strength exercises necessary to optimize senior fitness and to carry out basic daily activities like shopping, doing laundry,  walking, standing, cleaning house, stair climbing or to advance to more difficult pursuits like skiing, dancing, playing golf and hiking. In the  comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve stability, how to apply steadiness techniques and how to safely execute 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

Don't delay. 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/