Senior Balance Exercises And Changes In Gait

 Senior Balance Exercises And Different Walking Patterns

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

    Practicing senior balance exercises every day is vitally important for individuals over the age of sixty years old to combat the common changes that occur in gait as we age.  In our later years, we typically follow a pattern of common changes in the way we walk, which greatly affects our balance and increases our rate of falling.  The common changes that occur in older adults’ style of walking can include:

-decreased amplitude and speed of automatic movements including arm swing

-increased stiffness of the trunk and upper and lower extremities that leads to decreased mobility

-diminished accuracy of foot placement, leading to increased trips and falls

-slower cadence with walking, leading to decreased steps per minute

-shorter stride and step length secondary to slower rate of motor unit firing

-wide base of support or broad based gait

-stiffness in the ankles that leads to reduced push off

-decreased clearance of the toe, which leads to catch in the toe and falling

All these changes in the gait pattern of older adults eventually lead to poor balance with walking and a greater risk and incidence of falling.  Consequently, practicing senior balance exercises is essential to maximize balance abilities and improve stability to reduce the risk of falling. Please see http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now

 Senior Balance Exercises To Combat Changes In Gait

Performing senior balance exercises on a daily basis can help to combat the common changes seen in older adults walking patterns.  Stability exercises can include weight shifting routines that help to strengthen the muscles and balance reactions at the ankles.  These exercises also enhance the flexibility that is necessary at the ankles for maintaining correct step and swing patterns during walking.  Additionally, equilibrium exercises that focus on the balance technique of concentrating on the foot placement and sensory feedback from the feet and floor will help to reduce tripping and falling.  Furthermore, by practicing stability exercises every day you can increase the speed and strength of motor unit firing at the ankles, which helps to rapidly adjust to challenging balance situations.  Now, you can practice these specific balance techniques and senior balance exercises in a wonderful routine developed by an experience physical therapist in the comfort of your own home with the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    Improve your balance with walking by beginning the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The  Balance DVD is set up  to be used at home or in a group setting. The DVD is complete with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior safety and to perform basic activities like walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like dancing and hiking. In the Exercise For Balance DVD, you will practice how to improve balance, balance 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

Don't lose your balance while walking. Instead, 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/