Good Balance Can Help Prevent Falls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest statistics show that one in four Americans aged 65 years and older falls each year. The result is that “every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.”

While these are worrisome facts, experts say there are some simple exercises seniors can do to help prevent falls and maintain their independence. Remember a common injury caused by an elderly person falling is a hip fracture that can seriously impact their life. 

Most balance exercises are easy to learn and do, do not require special equipment or a trip to the gym, and can be done anywhere. The Mayo Clinic explains that while many exercises including walking can help maintain good balance, there are specific exercises targeted at improving a senior’s balance and stability. They do caution however that if you have severe balance problems or an orthopedic condition, to get your doctor's okay before starting balance exercises.

Examples of balance exercises include: standing on one foot, walking heel to toe, back leg raises, and side leg raises. To do the standing on one foot exercise, stand behind a sturdy chair; gripping for balance, lift one foot off the floor. Hold for 10 seconds and then repeat with the opposite legs. Repeat the exercise several times and increase the repetition as your strength increases. 

Walking heel to toe is done by positioning the heel of one foot in front of the toes of the other foot. Your heel and toes should be touching. Now select a spot ahead of you and focus on it to help keep you steady as you walk. Try to step forward for as many as 20 steps. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider for other balance exercises.

As one of the area’s top assisted living facilities, MorningStar of Rio Rancho will offer exercise classes to improve balance, strengthen muscles, and increase joint flexibility. Our various enrichment activities and wellness programs are designed to enhance and support our residents’ physical, mental, spiritual and social connections. Please visit our website to learn more about loving, luxurious senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM. 

This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any exercises. 

At MorningStar of Rio Rancho, we are proud to offer the best senior living with our distinct mission statement - “to honor, to value, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents in a beautiful setting. Opening to residents in the spring of 2019, we invite you to tour our model suites to see firsthand what exceptional senior housing in Rio Rancho, NM looks like. 

Source: mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/balance-exercises/sls-20076853