Elderly people and those with a brain injury should do everything they can to improve balance and avoid a fall. Falls can result in serious injuries. When an elderly person breaks a bone, for instance, the overall health and well-being impacts can be severe, even life-threatening.

Around 30 percent of all falls by elderly people are due to poor balance. As we age we become weaker and our balance deteriorates. The problem can be exacerbated by medication, dizziness or a range of physical or neurological ailments.

Falls are also frightening, so is there anything we can do to make them less likely? The answer is yes. And in the first place:

Avoid stress

It’s important to understand that mental, emotional and physical health are all connected. The place where you go to improve balance needs to be welcoming and congenial. You need to be able to relax and feel at home. The last thing you need is added stress.

Here are some things you or your loved ones can do to improve balance.

Dancing

Depending on a person’s overall health condition, simple things like attending dance classes can help you improve balance. Dancing is good both for your emotional and physical condition.

Yoga

Another activity popular with elderly people is yoga. In yoga sessions, you can work on your breathing and balance. This will help restore your poise and self-esteem as well as being physically beneficial.

If possible, it’s safer and much more fun if you can do these kinds of activities in a group. Having supportive people around is a great motivator. You can all look silly together, and even have a laugh!

At the end of the day, if such exercises help improve your balance, you will benefit. You will feel stronger, be more physically independent, and have a sense of achievement.

Exercises to improve balance

Elderly balance exercises and training can help restore one’s balance, which naturally declines as we age. Therapists can guide you on the best kind of exercises for your specific circumstances. Your balance can be improved gradually by doing strength, endurance and balance training.

While some exercises can be best performed using complex equipment, many exercises can be done simply at home. For instance, walking heel-to-toe or standing on one leg can help improve balance. It’s best if such exercises can be supervised by trained therapists to ensure you stay safe and don’t overdo it.

Leg raises

Other simple maneuvers include holding onto a sturdy chair for support and doing back leg raises and side leg raises.

It’s a good idea to build such exercises into your daily routine. Your therapist can advise you on, for example, how many back leg raises you should do.

Heel-to-toes exercises

Another exercise to improve balance involves the following: Hold your arms out at shoulder height to the side; focus on a particular spot ahead of you; place one foot heel-to-toe in front of the other until you reach your spot.

Performing such exercises regularly can help improve balance into the golden years.

Fairview Adult Day Care Center in Brooklyn, NY

Fairview is the perfect place to go to improve your balance. It has state-of-the-art facilities, including exercise machines which can digitally monitor your progress. And its qualified therapists and warm, friendly and welcoming staff make it a very popular choice to improve balance. You will have great dancing and yoga sessions too.

Contact us for further information at 1440 E 99th St, Brooklyn NY 11236. Phone (718) 251 5600.