Should You Use A Cane And Senior Balance Exercises?

Senior Balance Exercises Compliment Cane Use

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

           Older adults who start to use balance aids like canes often start with an ill fitting piece of equipment and they forget the effectiveness of practicing senior balance exercises  to improve stability. Please see http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now As people age, they usually begin to experience deficits in their balance and they find themselves at risk for falling. Healthcare professionals have found that  medication or other interventions for the specific etiology of instability may not be enough. The patient may need a gait aid such as a cane or walker. Unfortunately, often without testing a patient, a family member recognizing a problem will simply ask for a prescription for a cane, walker, or wheelchair. The patient may just begin using a discarded aid from another family member. Care givers or other healthcare professionals must help patients and family realize that there is more to using an aid than a prescription or purchase. Canes, walkers, and even wheelchairs must be measured for the patient. The correct type of cane (single, four-pronged) or walker (hemi, regular, or rolling) must be determined for each patient and deficit. Additionally, patients must be instructed in the proper use of such items in various circumstances (stairs, etc.). The patient's instinctive choice and use is often incorrect. Incorrect aids, fit, or use will actually increase falls. When the need for an aid is determined, the patient should be sent to a physical therapist who is expert in determining the proper aid and fit and can instruct the patient in its safe use. Many physical therapy departments have special fall assessment clinics and rehabilitation and conditioning programs. Improving muscle strength and balance through repetitive exercise has been shown to decrease the incidence and severity of falls. Additionally, now there is a professionally filmed Exercise For Balance DVD that was developed by an experienced Physical Therapist that will guide you through a specific senior balance exercise program to help you enhance balance abilities and diminish the potential of a fall.

Daily Senior Balance Exercises For Better Stability

    A regular routine of senior balance exercises can compliment using a cane or walker for enhanced steadiness with walking and a reduced risk for falling. Having good balance is key for senior citizens as they age to keep active and independent throughout their later years. Medical researchers have found that a combination of equilibrium routines and leg strengthening exercises is the optimal way to advance balance skills and minimize falling. Thankfully, the Exercise For Balance DVD includes specific step by step instruction on both stability exercises and certain leg strengthening exercises that target the most important muscles in the legs , the calf muscles and thigh muscles that assist with stability. Furthermore, the Exercise For Balance DVD offers detailed instruction on how to properly fit and use both a cane and a walker for improved results with balance.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    If you are considering using a cane or walker, please also begin the best balance exercises, get the Exercise For Balance DVD. The comprehensive Balance DVD is an excellent educational DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to follow DVD comes complete with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like shopping, walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like dancing and hiking. In the Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve stability, steadiness techniques and balance routines from a 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

 For all around safety, 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/