Ataxia And Senior Balance Exercises

2 Senior Balance Exercises For Ataxia

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

  Imbalance can be a difficult problem for many older individuals stemming from conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, diabetic neuropathy, stroke, ataxia and a list of other sources and can be helped by performing senior balance exercises on a regular basis. Please see more information at  http://www.exerciseforbalance.com/buy-now One condition that many aging individuals face is ataxia. Ataxia is a lack of muscle coordination which may affect speech, eye movements, the ability to swallow, walking, balance, picking up objects, and other voluntary movements. Many different things can cause ataxia, including multiple sclerosis, head trauma, alcohol abuse, stroke, cerebral palsy, genetics, or tumor. Ataxia may also be a symptom associated with certain infections. Ataxia can be caused by a wide range of factors including:

• Symptoms can include poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, and hearing problems

• Diagnosis of ataxia can be challenging and often involves a range of tests

• Although ataxia is not always curable, symptoms can often be alleviated                  Symptoms may vary depending on the severity and type of ataxia. If the ataxia is caused by an injury or another health condition, symptoms may emerge at any age, and may well improve and eventually disappear.

  Initial ataxia symptoms usually include:

  • Poor limb coordination.

  • Dysarthria - slurred and slow speech that is difficult to produce. The patient may also have difficulties controlling volume, rhythm, and pitch.

  If the ataxia progresses, other symptoms may also appear:

  • Swallowing difficulties, which may sometimes result in choking or coughing.

  • Facial expressions become less apparent.

  • Tremors - parts of the body may shake or tremble unintentionally.

  • Nystagmus - involuntary, rapid, rhythmic, repetitive eye movement. Movements may be vertical, horizontal, or circular.

  • Cold feet - because of a lack of muscle activity.

  • Problems with balance.

  • Walking difficulties - in severe cases, the patient may need a wheelchair.

  • Vision problems.

  • Hearing problems.

  • Depression - as a result of having to live and cope with the symptoms.

    One of the basic ways to improve symptoms of ataxia is to practice senior balance exercises to improve stability and limit the potential of a fall.

Simple Senior Balance Exercises

    Older folks with ataxia can help enhance their steadiness with standing and walking activities by rehearsing senior balance exercises every day. Since ataxia effects balance and coordination, it is essential to start with basic equilibrium routines that develop stability with static standing activities. First, you can start by standing with your feet shoulder width apart and centering your body weight in the middle of your feet. In this position, you can concentrate on the sense of touch between your feet on the floor. By focusing on the sensory input from your feet, you will make a strong connection between the sensory input from your feet and the balance center in your brain. This strong connection will help you to be more study with all standing activities. You can progress this exercise to standing on 1 foot for 20 seconds with three repetitions on each foot. By practicing this single leg standing routine you will develop strong and fast balance reactions at the feet and ankles which will help you with all walking activities. You can learn how to do these and other senior balance exercises by following along with the instruction of a qualified physical therapist in the exercise for balance DVD.

Senior Balance Exercises In The Exercise For Balance DVD

Learn balance exercises with the Exercise For Balance DVD

    For those with ataxia,  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

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/