What have you done to improve balance?

I’m 80 so attend “chair yoga” classes 2x week. It has improved balance & bone density as well as stretch and strengthen all muscles. I feel it is the best thing I do to improve health and keep from falling. Many senior facilities as well as PBS TV offers classes/videos. Think about it…

Hello, @thomasmichael

Measurably improve? I can't be sure, not if by "measurably" you mean "significantly." But improve? Yes, I would say so. Or, if easier, swifter, more stable walking … well, the jury's still out on that one. I'm still cautious walker, even around home, and, in an unfamiliar environment (and that includes all outdoors), I remain a persistent "wall-walker" (making me somewhat of a nuisance when I'm with a bunch of my friends: "Pardon me if I have to touch the top of your head … ")

What I believe I can say in absolute honesty is that my balance has not gotten any worse. It has remained stable for these past two years––none, or no progression––which I'm happy to call "improvement." Knowing my balance could easily worsen, I've taken to regard no worsening as improvement. I attribute my balance and waling "holding steady" to PT, with a therapist, or (as at the moment) on my own. Keeping moving––even when it hurts (as it sure can do!)––has been my magic bullet.

I wish you the very best, @thomasmichael !
Ray (@ray666)

@ray666 - I agree with you on the point about balance. If balance is about the same as it was a year ago, then that is good news. With PN, anything that doesn't get worse, is good. My balance is about the same as it was a year ago.

Good morning, Ed. For the past few months I've been concerned that my balance had grown slightly worse, but then I remembered for the same past few months, because of long days of heavy lifting and heavy carting involved in moving my partner over to my house, I've not been exercising. Now that the move is complete and I'm back to exercising regularly, I can see that my balance has not worsened. In my mind, that's a tribute to regular exercise. (Here we go … another day!) ––Ray

I would agree, as well. My balance is about the same now as it was a year ago. I have had PT specifically for balance, which may have helped more if I had done the exercises every single day. I do exercises in the pool each day. I am now seeing a PT who does dry needling. After six weekly visits at $100/pop I can't tell much difference.... so I doubt I will continue that. I guess the thing that has helped the most is to just try and keep moving everyday and not become too sedentary. The AFOs also help with balance for me.... but I still stumble or fall on occasion. Life is certainly different than a few years ago! Best wishes! MikeH

Thanks Mike. And thanks to all u who responded. This is a great site, And it’s nice to walk this journey with those who understand.

Have just ordered a pair of barefoot shoes and hope myu balance will improve. Broke my hip last year--rushing into a store and slipped. Now I am 90 and trying to remember not to hurry. Any thoughts on improving balance while outdoors. I still work in the yard and find myself weaving and slipping.
Any thoughts?

I use a stationary bike or treadmill for 1 hours every day. I have notice improvement on stairs and walking. I agree that being active is the key. There must be different types of "balance". When my eyes are open, I have no problem. If I stand and close my eyes, the world swirls til I open them. If I put my head back like looking up, I will fall. I have heard that balance is partly an ear thing. (I do wear hearing aids). This happens only while standing. I don't know anything on balance issues but I am learning from these blog comment. - Thank You.

Good morning, Mike

You say, "I have had PT … which may have helped more if I had done the exercises every single day." What? You mean we're birds of a feather? One of a kind? LOL Every morning I say to myself, "OK, Ray, today you're going to do all of the exercises you've been given to do." Then, at day's end, I say, "OK, Ray, tomorrow's going to be different. Tomorrow you're going to do all of the exercises you've been given to do." Thanks for being honest, Mike. It's good to know I'm not alone.

You say, too, that you still stumble or fall on occasion. Mmm, that, too. I used to be a hopeless braggart, answering whenever one of my doctors would ask the always-asked question, "Have you fallen lately?" I'd answer: "Me? No! I haven't fallen in years! Are you kidding? Ha!" Well … last Wednesday, I fell. The worst kind of falling: in public! I'd met a friend for coffee at a local coffee shop, and when we'd been getting up to go, I turned too abruptly and WHOOPS! Thud! Down I went, having tripped over nothing but my stupid inattention. I'm now practicing for the next time a doctor asks if I've fallen lately: "Fallen? Oh, well … fallen? You mean like fallen 'to the ground'? Well, er … there was this one time, at a coffee shop … I, er … well, you see, I fell. I'm sorry," (Sorry? Why on earth would I be saying, "I'm sorry"? What weird creature we are. LOL)

Cheers!
Ray

Hi, @stephencbabcock
I, too, will feel like I might fall if I look up. My partner, who is short, will sometimes ask if I would fetch something from one of our kitchen's higher cabinets. I've learned, when I reach up, I'd better have the fingers of one hand touching lightly to the kitchen counter. It's like something we "wall walkers" know: it doesn't take a deathgrip to maintain your balance; just a light touch. I tell people the light touch is to help me remember where I am in relation to the center of the Earth, or which way is up and which way is down. That's all it takes.
Ray (@ray666)