Adequate Proprioception And Senior Balance Exercises

Senior Balance Exercises For Fall Prevention

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

      Having adequate proprioception is essential for those in the aging population and practicing senior balance exercises can enhance proprioceptive abilities. Please see    http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now  Proprioception, the sense of where one is in space, is essential for effective interaction with the environment, including staying safely on your feet with all standing and walking activities. A lack of or reduction in proprioceptive acuity has been directly correlated with falls and with the subsequent reduced functional independence and quality of life in older people. Proprioceptive losses have also been shown to negatively correlate with functional recovery post stroke and play a significant role in other conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Additionally, following orthopedic surgeries such as a hip or knee replacement, individuals experience altered proprioception in those joints that can also contribute to falling. Consequently, rehearsing specific senior balance exercises and partaking in proprioception-specific rehabilitation is essential for many senior citizens who have had orthopedic surgeries, struggle with neurological deficits or are simply undergoing changes due to aging.

Senior Balance Exercises And Proprioceptive Feedback

       One key component of stability is having good proprioception in the lower extremities and practicing senior balance exercises on a regular basis can maximize those sensory cues. Since Proprioception involves sensory feedback from joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues, most older adults experience a decline in their proprioceptive capacity as they age since there is also a decline in the abilities of those joints and soft tissue structures. Consequently, it is imperative for senior citizens to perform equilibrium routines to maximize their leg strength, balance skills and proprioceptive feedback. One example of a steadiness exercise that strengthens ones proprioceptive abilities involves standing with feet shoulder width a part and centering ones weight in the middle of the feet. In this position, you can concentrate on the sense of touch between your feet and the floor and on keeping your body weight centered in the middle of your feet. You can progress this stability routine by standing on one foot, which reduces the surface area of your base of support, which in turn challenges your balance. By rehearsing this single stance steadiness exercise for twenty seconds, three times in a row and twice a day, you will develop strong proprioceptive cues, which will ultimately enhance your balance abilities and reduce the potential of a fall and an injury from a fall. You can learn these proprioceptive techniques and a step by step progression of senior balance exercises by following the instruction of a knowledgeable Physical Therapist in the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

    To develop necessary proprioceptive feedback from the legs and feet as well as begin the best balance exercises, get the Exercise For Balance DVD. This professionally filmed Exercise For Balance DVD is an exceptional educational tool to use at home or in a group setting. The Exercise For Balance DVD comes complete with the best balance and strength exercises needed to enhance senior fitness and to perform basic activities like cleaning house, walking, standing, stair climbing or to advance to high level activities like playing golf, dancing and hiking. In the comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve balance, steadiness techniques and balance routines from a balance instructor --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 steady 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/