Gait Disturbances And Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises Lead To A Steadier Gait

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

   By practicing senior balance exercises on a consistent basis, older individuals are able to enhance their stability with walking. Please see   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now Medical researchers have noted that gait and balance problems are common with advancing age. Disorders of balance and gait are particularly important in the elderly because they compromise independence and contribute to the risk of falls and injury, such as a hip or wrist fracture. Although they are considered as separate clinical entities, balance and gait disturbance are often intertwined.

The pattern of how a person walks is called the gait. Different types of walking problems occur without a person's control. Most, but not all, are due to a physical condition.

Some walking abnormalities have been given names:

• Propulsive gait -- a stooped, stiff posture with the head and neck bent forward

• Scissors gait -- legs flexed slightly at the hips and knees like crouching, with the knees and thighs hitting or crossing in a scissors-like movement

• Spastic gait -- a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by a long muscle contraction on one side

• Steppage gait -- foot drop where the foot hangs with the toes pointing down, causing the toes to scrape the ground while walking, requiring someone to lift the leg higher than normal when walking

• Waddling gait -- a duck-like walk that may appear in childhood or later in life                                                                                                                    When an individual has a problem with walking such as the conditions mentioned above, it is extremely important for them to rehearse senior balance exercises in order to enhance their walking abilities and minimize any potential for falling.

  

Senior Balance Exercises For Safe Gait

        Healthcare professionals like doctors, physical therapists, nurses and caregivers recommend daily exercises including senior balance exercises to help enhance stability with walking. For people who have gait issues like foot drop, ataxia or other conditions mentioned above, performing simple static and dynamic stability exercises will dramatically enhance steadiness with walking movements. As an example, static standing equilibrium routines can involve standing on one foot (be sure to stand near a counter or table when trying these exercises). In time, you can progress to dynamic stability routines like walking heel to toe along a line. These static and dynamic 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

    To be safe with all walking movements, please begin the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The professionally filmed  Balance DVD is an exceptional educational tool to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to follow Balance DVD is filled  with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like grocery shopping, walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like playing tennis, 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

     Stay safe with walking 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/