Boomer-itis and fall prevention

I read an article about it before and since my mother has officially reached Baby Boomer status, I would like to spread the news. Boomeritis is a disease that affects people 50 and older, basically the baby boomer generation we hear so much about these days.
So what is boomeritis? Boomeritis is characterized by the nagging pains that have developed in your knees, back, and hands. It is the inflammation that immediately sets in after bouts of exercise. It is the aching that doesn't go away but now remains more constant. It is the tendonitis, bursitis, all the -itis that you never had before!

Unfortunately, boomeritis not only affects the baby boomers! Heck, as a 41 year old athlete, I'm beginning to feel it, too. I know lots of people my age that complain after doing some exercise or strenuous movment. Basically, boomeritis is a sign that we are not as young as we used to be. It takes longer to recover from the workouts and you are more sore after increased effort (ok, ok, that's just me lately but it does take more time to bounce back).

In order to combat this boomeritis, we need to longer warm up and cool down times. Longer recovery time may require an extra day between workouts but nothing AND I MEAN NOTHING, beats consistent movement. Take 5 to Exercise is a new approach to seated exercise routines and was developed to encourage daily movement in order to reduce the risk of a fall. Staying active not only reduces fall risk but also improves quality of life.
As we age, we need to devote MORE time to flexibility and strengthening exercises but unfortunately, we don't spend as much time caring for our body as we should.
Make the time, you're worth it: Take 5 to Exercise.

Fall risk screenings....

I am going out into my community to set up 4-hour screenings where I will be testing older adults for balance and mobility system impairments that, if left unchecked, can increase the risk of an accidental fall. My community project is about increasing awareness through early detection and preventative education. This type of outreach is what communities need to implement before falls reach epidemic proportions among the older population.

I plan on using the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale to test community-dwelling older adults who are interested in testing their balance skills. This type of test is perfect for older adults who do not consider themselves vulnerable to a fall and it's also perfect for anyone who have fallen and is concerned about falling again. The FAB includes 10-fitness tests that are designed to assess the body systems involved in balance and mobility; the visual, vestibular, somatosensory, and musculoskeletal. This type of fitness testing is recommended for the "young-old".

When appropriate, I will recommend using the Berg Balance scale which is a good assessment tool for the more frail individual. Due to the sedentary nature of our society, I will not be surprised by the number of older adults who are only capable of the 14-fitness tests on the Berg. Both of these assessment tools are research and evidence-based methods of indicating those who are either moderate or high risk of falling.

I will be using these functional assessment tools in increase public awareness of the vulnerability everyone has when it comes to losing his or her balance. Some of the tests are challenging and can be quite humbling when doing them. I hope to educate Sacramento residents about how to reduce the risk of an accidental fall by remaining physically active. It is important to Take 5 to Exercise each day and challenge the body's balance systems regularly and safely.

If you're not assessing, you're guessing. So find out what your strengths are, be aware of your weaknesses and take responsibility for your well being by following a regular exercise routine, either seated or standing. And smile, your body will adapt and improve!

If interested, contact me.... livinfit@gmail.com