Daily Activities to Improve Balance in Seniors
Keeping up with an exercise routine is a struggle for most people. Seniors in particular may have exceptional difficulty starting a formal exercise program if they have never done so. For many years it was also considered harmful for older person to engage in physical activity. However, seniors can benefit greatly from moderate exercise which can actually improve many conditions and even prevent accidents and reduce recovery time. One of the primary benefits is increased coordination and balance.
Balance is affected by multiple factors as we age including certain diseases like Parkinson’s, fluctuating blood pressure, medication side effects, and infections. These issues increase the likelihood of fall related accidents while weakened muscles and bones lead to more severe injuries and longer recovery times.
Exercise can help prevent these falls and also make an individual stronger and more able to recover should an accident occur. Any activity that keeps you standing and moving can help with muscles, joints and balance but some are especially good for balance. Some balance exercises you can incorporate right in your home include:
- Balance on one foot: You can either set out certain periods of the day to do this or simply incorporate during any time you would normally stand such as when on the telephone, folding laundry or doing dishes.
- Stand up without using your hands: You may not even think about the fact that you use your arms to help lift you from a seated position, but focusing on just using the strength of your legs will help those muscles become stronger.
- Heel toe walk: Like the name implies, this exercise involves taking steps while aligning the heel of one foot with the toe of the other. Take around 15 to 20 steps this way to help with both balance and coordination.
- Leg lifts: To make this exercise safer, stand near a waist high table so you have something to catch yourself on in case you do lose your balance during the exercise. Hold each leg up to the side for a 30 second count. Try also lifting your opposite arm to increase the benefits of this move.
- Slow Marching: Stand by a table for this one as well, but don’t hold on unless you have to. Alternate raising each knee as high as you can, slowly counting to two each time. Do this for two minutes.
If you or a senior loved one is struggling to incorporate exercise into your daily routine or do not feel strong enough to do the exercises on your own, then an in home care worker can be a great option to increase physical health and maintain independence. Santa Clarita, California Comfort Keepers provides caregivers trained to give interactive care that takes each patient’s abilities and wants into account when creating a physical routine. Visit our site today to start leading a healthier, more active life today.
Comfort Keepers
23900 Lyons Avenue
Santa Clarita, CA 91321
661-287-4200
