Balance Exercises Make a Difference in senior health

 

We all harbor our secret fears of one sort or another. What is surprising is when we discover how many others share our same fear.  A 1993 study published in the Journal of Aging and Health exposed one fear that is very universal among active seniors.  It’s falling.

Of the common fears like robbery and serious financial problems, falling as a senior health problem ranked on top, according to the Massachusetts based study.   In a much larger study reported by the National Institute of Health in 2008, nearly 15% of American adults had a balance or dizziness problem during the past year. For adults ages 65 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and a major senior health issue, according to the report.

As we get older, many people experience problems with their sense of balance. They feel dizzy or unsteady, or as if they or their surroundings were in motion. Disturbances of the inner ear are a common cause.  As doctors remind us, a large part of falling is attributed to controlling and maintaining balance.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults ages 65 years and older fall each year. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Falls and fall-related injuries, such as hip fracture, can have a serious impact on an older person’s life. If you fall, it could limit your activities or make it impossible to live independently. Many people often become more isolated after a fall.

The statistics need not be discouraging, but instead a wake up call to learning about the many exercises and programs that are available to improve balance.

Some exercises help make up for a balance disorder by moving the head and body in certain ways. The exercises are developed especially for a patient by a professional who understands the balance system and its relationship with other systems in the body for senior health.

Author Howie Bell has written one of the most popular exercise book available on Amazon, to help seniors with a simple exercise program.  The book, appropriately titled – Simple Circles, An Exercise Program for Seniors & Their Families – actually targets the offspring and family members of elderly.  He believes it may be necessary from time to time for the family to intervene on behalf of the parent or loved one.  The book is dedicated to his parents.  His inspiration behind the book is a heart rendering story of how his father suffered injuries from an accidental fall, and the resulting recovery and exercises that Howie developed and shares in his book.

Learning how to manage and improve your balance, is an important part of senior health and senior fitness.  In addition to Simple Circles your can learn more at Active Seniors HQ, an excellent website made for active seniors. The great thing is that there are many sources of information for learning.

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