Having trouble keeping your balance?

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Dec 13, 2018

I am at the age where I am always watching where I step so as not to lose my balance. Falling can be dangerous for some of us in the older generation. This is especially true when you have other health problems. It's important to work on being able to keep your balance. Today I received a Mayo Clinic on Controlling your Arthritis which I thought had some excellent and easy to do exercises to help gain better balance.

Slide show: Balance exercises
Adding a few simple exercises to your daily routine may help you prevent falls and improve your balance. See how to do them.
-- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/multimedia/balance-exercises/sls-20076853?s=1

What are your biggest balance challenges? What kind of exercises help you?

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@johnbishop thanks for this link. Where I live I started a chair exercise group incorporating some Yoga stances .I think we need to put more emphasis on exercises for our health.

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@lioness

@johnbishop thanks for this link. Where I live I started a chair exercise group incorporating some Yoga stances .I think we need to put more emphasis on exercises for our health.

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@lioness that we do! I don't do as much as I should but that's because I don't set aside the time. I have routine in the morning that I do 10 to 15 minutes on my elliptical then to leg range of motion and stretching exercises. I need to take the same approach and set aside some time for the evenings. I just need to get through the holidays first ☺

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@johnbishop

@lioness that we do! I don't do as much as I should but that's because I don't set aside the time. I have routine in the morning that I do 10 to 15 minutes on my elliptical then to leg range of motion and stretching exercises. I need to take the same approach and set aside some time for the evenings. I just need to get through the holidays first ☺

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@johnbishop That's great . You cant exercise 7 days a week all day it isn't good for the muscles anyway . I do everyday about 15 minutes especially stretching .

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@johnbishop The exercises you gave us a link to are great! I found I can even do them while standing at the bus stop!

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@johnbishop
Hi, I will be 78 in April and have gone to 3 gym classes weekly since I retired nearly 6 years ago. The class is called Active Senior and is led by a very active and strong 78 year old man. His emphasis is on stretching, strength, cardio and balance. The gym also has a weekly balance class. I don’t attend the balance class but these years of attending the active senior class has made me feel younger and stronger than ever. I have tons of energy and exercise on a daily basis. Some of the balance exercises in your links are ones we do in class.

I can’t emphasize enough for us seniors to keep moving as much as we can . We tend to get more sedentary as we age. Incorporate any type of exercise into your daily routine and your balance will improve over time and you will get stronger. Do a few stretches while waiting for the microwave to go off. Do a one minute jog in front of that tv. Raise those legs up and down while sitting in front of the tv.

Each to his own ability of course. With all that I do, I am still careful of the way I walk and chose not to do things around the house anymore where I might fall ( like getting up on a ladder to change AC filters in a 10 ft ceiling). I can do it but I don’t want to break any bones.

We have a lot of walkers here in Florida . It’s great to live in a state where the climate is conducive to being active. The malls are alive in the early morning with walkers in the uggy humid months.

Regards from Mary

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@imallears

@johnbishop
Hi, I will be 78 in April and have gone to 3 gym classes weekly since I retired nearly 6 years ago. The class is called Active Senior and is led by a very active and strong 78 year old man. His emphasis is on stretching, strength, cardio and balance. The gym also has a weekly balance class. I don’t attend the balance class but these years of attending the active senior class has made me feel younger and stronger than ever. I have tons of energy and exercise on a daily basis. Some of the balance exercises in your links are ones we do in class.

I can’t emphasize enough for us seniors to keep moving as much as we can . We tend to get more sedentary as we age. Incorporate any type of exercise into your daily routine and your balance will improve over time and you will get stronger. Do a few stretches while waiting for the microwave to go off. Do a one minute jog in front of that tv. Raise those legs up and down while sitting in front of the tv.

Each to his own ability of course. With all that I do, I am still careful of the way I walk and chose not to do things around the house anymore where I might fall ( like getting up on a ladder to change AC filters in a 10 ft ceiling). I can do it but I don’t want to break any bones.

We have a lot of walkers here in Florida . It’s great to live in a state where the climate is conducive to being active. The malls are alive in the early morning with walkers in the uggy humid months.

Regards from Mary

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@imallears Great posting, thank you! Lots of inspiration! Becky

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Lately I am falling a lot. Sometimes by stepping on a pebble, or sometimes for no reason. This is very disconcerting to me. I have no medical issues. Should I have some tests done?

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@helenrbWelcome to our group we aren't Dr,s but let you know what helps with problems. I'm Linda and have same problem bDr sent me to a ear Dr who had some testing done as the equalibrium was affected .Dr gave me ear exercises to do maybe this might be someone for you to consider These exercises are helping me Good luck

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@helenr

Lately I am falling a lot. Sometimes by stepping on a pebble, or sometimes for no reason. This is very disconcerting to me. I have no medical issues. Should I have some tests done?

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@helenr I would suggest starting with a visit to your doctor for an evaluation. The doctor can also refer you to physical therapy for balance exercises. But, first make sure there is no physical cause. When I was so sick last year, I was sent to PT for balance. @johnbishop recently posted a connection to balance exercises—they’re great. Good luck and I hope your problem gets solved!

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Hi All!
Just got this article. I wasn't sure which group to post this. John (@johnbishop), I am sure you will move this to the appropriate place.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Pickleball: 5 Hidden Health Benefits for Older Adults - SilverSneakers
Pickeball is a popular sport and form of exercise among older adults, and for good reason. It helps your heart, mood, and more!

https://www.silversneakers.com/blog/pickleball-health-benefits/
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