Concussions And Senior Balance Exercises

Limit Head Injuries With Senior Balance Exercises

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

   For older individuals, hitting ones head in a fall can have serious consequences and practicing senior balance exercises can help reduce the incidence of falling and head trauma. Please see more information at     http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now According to the Centers For Disease Control, there are 1.6 million to 3.8 million concussions reported every year. Many of those mild brain injuries occur during sporting activities, whether playing in a game or working out in practice. On the other hand, many head injuries are a result of older individuals falling and hitting their head. Often times, senior citizens trip on a throw rug or step and fall forward. Additionally, many older adults lose their balance and fall backwards hitting the back of their head. Results from that fall can include:

-Bruising of the face

-Fracture of fascial bones

-Concussion

-Increase in dizziness

-Increase in the fear of falling

  Secondary to a fall there are several ways the brain can be injured.  A concussion may occur in any or all of the following scenarios: Head to head contact, head to object contact, head to ground contact, head to body part contact and non-head contact due to sudden change in direction, i.e. Whiplash. The brain can have a focal impact injury where the brain injury is located where the brain was hit, point of contact. A concussion can cause a translational/linear injury where brain injury occurs when there is no direct impact to the head. The brain sits inside the skull, unattached, and can slide back and forth. With enough force, ie. whiplash, the brain can be injured on both the “coup” side and the “contra-coup” side. Furthermore, the brain can experience an angular/rotational concussion resulting from a sudden head twist, temporarily separating the brain stem and spinal cord. This kind of impact can sever the Corpus Callosum, which is the connection tissues between two brain hemispheres, affect the brain stem and cerebellum. All in all concussions are very serious and should be avoided at all costs. The best way for individuals in the aging population to avoid a head injury is to limit their exposure to falling. There are simple techniques to safety proof ones home (like install adequate lighting, remove throw rugs and pick up all clutter off the floor). Additionally, medical scientists have proven that aging individuals who practice senior balance exercises on a regular basis have a decreased incidence of falling.

Senior Balance Exercises To Reduce Falling

   Medical scientists and healthcare professionals agree that the best way to reduce falling is for aging individuals to rehearse senior balance exercises on a consistent basis. To avoid falling with walking, senior citizens can practice an equilibrium routine called tandem walking. In tandem walking the person walks along a line in a heel to toe design. Tandem walking builds strong and fast balance reactions at the feet and ankles. Tandem walking can help enhance stability and limit falling with walking. You can practice tandem walking and other senior balance exercises in the convenience of your own home by following the instruction of a skilled Physical Therapist in the Exercise For Balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

Learn how to perform balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD

    To limit the possibility of a fall and head injury, get started on a course of the best balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD. The healthcare provider recommended Exercise For Balance DVD is a high quality instructional DVD to use at home or in a group setting. The easy to understand and simple to follow Exercise For Balance DVD includes  a step by step series of the latest balance and strength exercises necessary to optimize senior fitness and to carry out basic daily activities like shopping, doing laundry,  walking, standing, cleaning house, stair climbing or to advance to more difficult pursuits like skiing, dancing, playing golf and hiking. In the  comprehensive Exercise For Balance DVD, you will learn how to improve stability, how to apply steadiness techniques and how to safely execute balance routines from a  qualified balance specialist --- 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

Limit falling 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/