Safe Walking Speeds And Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises For Faster Walking Speeds

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

   Walking is a critical exercise for older adults to continue with in later years and starting with   senior balance exercises is essential to prevent falling and maximize the health benefits of walking. Please see   http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now The sense of balance and walking speed (how fast a person walks) worsens with age. As the years pass, senior citizens often start walking more slowly and with greater difficulty, fatiguing more easily. When required to walk quickly, aging individuals may not be able to increase their speed and stride length at the same time. Decreased walking speed and decreased stride length in older individuals is because elders tend to be more cautious and opt out for greater stability. Individuals with a fear of falling, in particular, walk very slowly and exhibit great caution with each step. A slow walk, however, can actually result in greater instability and a higher incidence of falling.
Walking ability can be further compromised by:
•    Health conditions (such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, etc.)
•    Medication side effects causing fatigue, light-headedness, etc.
•    Visual problems (cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration) and an inability to see environmental obstacles/hazards.
•    Hearing loss. This may result in not hearing warning sounds when walking, such as oncoming traffic and/or people.  
•    Lack of muscle strength and flexibility.
•    Foot and ankle problems (bunions, hammertoes, etc.).
•    Improper/poorly fitted footwear.
•    Hazardous environmental conditions Trip/slip hazards include sidewalks with cracks, hard to visualize curbs/curb cuts, unsafe surfaces (wet leaves, mud, gravel, ice/snow, etc.), items in the walk path, etc. 

The first and most critical step to take is to begin a series of senior balance exercises to enhance steadiness and improve walking abilities.

Senior Balance Exercises For Better Walking

    To improve steadiness with walking, it is advised to initiate senior balance exercises to develop necessary stability.  One easy equilibrium routine that you can start at home involves standing on one foot for twenty seconds, completing three repetitions on each foot. You can progress this stability exercise to include stepping forwards with one foot while you are balancing on the other foot. You can find these senior balance exercises and a series of additional equilibrium and strengthening routines in the exercise for balance DVD, developed by a qualified Physical Therapist.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    For safety with walking, please initiate a program of the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The healthcare professional recommended Exercise For Balance DVD is an outstanding educational DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to follow Exercise For Balance DVD comes complete with  a step by step series of top notch balance and strength exercises needed to maximize senior fitness and to perform basic activities like shopping, doing laundry,  walking, standing, cleaning house, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like skiing, dancing, bocce ball and hiking. In the  comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve stability, steadiness techniques and balance routines from a balance instructor --- 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

Be 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/