You often hear that geriatric patients are at heightened risk of injuries due to falls, but this may not seem like a real concern until it happens to you. As you age, your balance can gradually decline as your muscles weaken, joints stiffen, and vision worsens until you hesitate with daily tasks for fear of getting hurt.
So, why should geriatric patients perform balance exercises? Balance exercises can help preserve physical strength and stability to maintain an active, independent lifestyle.
At Exchange Physical Therapy Group, we provide exceptional physical therapy in Hoboken, NJ. Read on to learn from our team about the advantages of senior balance workouts so you can begin incorporating them into your routine.
Understanding the Importance of Balance Exercises for Seniors
A little fall may not be a big deal when you’re young. However, one misstep can lead to long-term physical and mental consequences as you age. From painful injuries to questioning your stability after the fall, you simply may not recover fully.
According to the CDC, over three million older individuals are treated in emergency departments yearly for fall injuries, with 800,000 patients hospitalized.
Below, we’ll discuss the importance of balance exercises for seniors and offer a few simple exercises you can add to your daily routine.
The Benefits of Balance Training for Older Adults
So, why should geriatric patients perform balance exercises?
The benefits of balance training for older adults include the following:
- Improved stability: Most notably, balance exercises improve your stability. As a result, many simple tasks like getting dressed, cooking, standing up, or walking your pet should become easier.
- Reduced fall risks: One of the main reasons seniors do balance exercises is to reduce fall risks. Exercise can reduce fall risks by as much as 24%.
- Better mobility: If you struggle with painful, stiff joints, stability exercises can reduce some of this tension. Your balance exercises may help you enjoy better flexibility and mobility with day-to-day tasks, making you more inclined to get active.
- Enhanced overall health: Movement and exercise enhance your overall health in astounding ways. You can reduce your risks of heart disease, obesity, depression, diabetes, daytime sleepiness, blood pressure, and cognitive decline, all by exercising.
Balance Exercises To Incorporate Into Your Routine
Now that you understand the significance of balance activities for elderly adults, let’s cover a few training recommendations. Here are a few activities you may incorporate into your routine:
- Single leg balancing: Stand on one leg, holding on to a wall or chair for balance, while lifting your other leg slowly for as long as you can (repeat on both legs).
- Straight line walk: Walk heel to toe in a straight line forward, backward, or in a zig-zag pattern.
- Flamingo stand: Hold on to a chair for balance and hold one leg up behind your knee for as long as possible (repeat on both legs).
- Weight shifting: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and slowly shift your weight from side to side, keeping your feet flat for support.
- Tree pose: Lift one leg and place the sole of that foot on the inside of your other knee, holding on to a chair if you need support and maintaining the position for as long as possible (repeat on both legs).
How Often Should You Perform Balance Exercises?
If you want to reap the benefits of balance training for older adults, you should perform these exercises regularly, at least two to three times per week. If you have the time, you may complete your routine daily.
Need More Support?
So, why should geriatric patients perform balance exercises? Balance exercises can help you preserve your stability as you age.
At Exchange Physical Therapy Group, we offer personalized physical therapy treatment plans for everything from neck stiffness and TMJ to ankle injuries. For a personalized training program, contact our team at Exchange Physical Therapy Group for a consultation.
