Arterial Disease And Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises For Those With Poor Circulation

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

      The circulatory system is vey complex and goes through changes as we age and partaking in basic cardiovascular routines and senior balance exercises  can help maintain overall mobility. Please see   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now  One common circulatory problem that plagues older individuals is Peripheral Arterial Disease. Medical professionals like doctors, nurses and physical therapists define Peripheral Arterial Disease as  atherosclerosis of the extremities (virtually always lower) causing ischemia. Mild Peripheral Arterial Disease may be asymptomatic or cause intermittent claudication; severe Peripheral Arterial Disease may cause rest pain with skin atrophy, hair loss, cyanosis, ischemic ulcers, and gangrene. Diagnosis for Peripheral Arterial Disease is by history, physical examination, and measurement of the ankle-brachial index. Treatment of mild Peripheral Arterial Disease includes risk factor modification, exercise, antiplatelet drugs, and cilostazol or possibly pentoxifylline as needed for symptoms. Severe Peripheral Arterial Disease usually requires angioplasty or surgical bypass and may require amputation. Prognosis is generally good with treatment, although mortality rate is relatively high because coronary artery or cerebrovascular disease often coexists. Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease is about 12% in the US; men are affected more commonly. Risk factors are the same as those for atherosclerosis: increasing age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia (high low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol), cigarette smoking (including passive smoking) or other forms of tobacco use, and a family history of atherosclerosis. Obesity, male sex, and a high homocysteine level are also risk factors. Medical professionals have determined that gentle endurance exercises like walking can help reduce cardiovascular disorders including Peripheral Arterial Disease. Healthcare providers recommend that before initiating a walking program you should practice specific senior balance exercises to advance balance skills and minimize any potential of falling.

Senior Balance Exercises For Walking Programs

     Before starting a walking program, it is essential to perform certain senior balance exercises to develop adequate stability. Whether you plan to walk on sidewalks, grassy parks or hiking trails, it is critical to establish strong and fast balance reactions at the feet and ankles to keep from falling while on uneven terrain. An ideal equilibrium routine to start with involves standing in a tandem stance position where your feet are lined up, heel to toe. The goal is to be able to hold this position for twenty seconds without losing your balance. In this tandem stance position you will notice that your ankles wobble quite a bit. The movement at the ankles is your natural balance reactions adjusting to the movements of your body weight. As you improve with his steadiness routine, you will build strong balance reactions, which will prepare you for a walking program. You can practice this and other senior balance exercises by following along with the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    For folks with Peripheral Arterial Disease, please begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The professionally filmed Exercise For Balance DVD is an exceptional instructional DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The step by step Exercise For Balance DVD comes filled with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like walking, grocery shopping, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like skiing, dancing and hiking. In the comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, steadiness techniques and stability 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

 Before beginning a walking program, 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/