Maintaining a sense of balance is important for carrying out many of our daily activities and independence. More importantly, improved balance can significantly help with preventing falls. Falling is a common occurrence that everyone will experience at some point in our lives, but as we grow older, a fall can be life-changing in all the bad ways.
These balance-focused activities are not only a quick and easy way for you to boost your sense of balance but can also be a fun way for you to get up and moving during the day. One tip from our team at Discovery Village At Deerwood is that before trying any of the exercises is that engaging your core abdominal muscles can help you to better maintain your center of gravity and balance better during any of these exercises.
Standing on One Leg
If you have ever seen a flamingo standing at rest, you would have a rough idea of what this exercise looks like. Beginning by standing with your feet hip-width apart, lift one of your feet off the ground by either holding it to your side or bending it at the knee. Keep it up for 30 seconds and then repeat with your other foot. If you find it hard to remain stable, stand near a wall or a sturdy chair that you can reach out for support.
If you find it easy to hold this position for more than 30 seconds without additional help, there are also modifications you can try to push yourself. For example, closing your eyes when doing the exercise or by swinging the lifted foot from front to back slowly.
Toe and Fro
This is another easy exercise that you can do anywhere, at any time. Just as with the previous exercise, if you are not feeling confident or just need the additional support, make sure to start near a stable structure that you can reach for. To start this exercise, simply lift yourself up onto your toes, then roll back onto the heels of your feet. Repeat this exercise between ten to 30 times a day.
Reaching for It
Unlike the others, this exercise requires upper body movement. Start by standing between a raised surface like a table or chair and an object on the floor. The items should be in line with your left and right hand respectively. With your feet placed shoulder-width apart, keep both of them planted on the ground as you bend diagonally at the waist to pick up the object and place it onto the surface. Afterward, complete the motion by putting it back onto the floor. Do ten repetitions and then change sides so that the orientation of the object and structure is now switched. Finish off with another ten repetitions with this new side.
Dimensions Health & Fitness Programs at Discovery Village At Deerwood
In our senior living community, we believe that staying active is one of the best ways for you and your loved ones to stay happy and healthy. This is why we offer professionally designed wellness programs for all of our residents as part of our exclusive senior living programs. The different activities that are introduced every day are all senior-specific and targeted at holistic health. This means that not only do we prioritize your physical wellness, but we also believe in providing support to our residents’ social, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and medical wellbeing. To find out more about the different programs we have in our community, contact us today for more information, or to schedule a tour to visit our amazing grounds.
