Summer's Sizzling Improvements in Woodland Brains and Balance Class

2019 has busy summer for the Fall Prevention Lady!  I've been presenting neuro-balance workshops and teaching brain-based fall prevention classes in local Sacramento communities.   I just completed a four-week Brains and Balance Training session at the Woodland Community Center and senior fitness test improvements were sizzling fantastic!

As you know, I use the only standardized fitness tests for seniors; Rikli and Jones' Senior Fitness Tests, to assess fitness components associated with falls.  Thanks to testing over one hundred seniors for my research study, I ALWAYS measure pre- and post-scores to test the efficacy of the class.  Tests provide OBJECTIVE DATA; numbers don't lie.   Students not only feel better, they SEE the numbers.

Each participant is tested in lower body flexibility, lower body strength, and dynamic balance and agility skills on the first and last day of class.  In my summer Woodland class, there was a tie for most improved.   The tie was between two women; 74 and 73 years old.  

Look at these life-changing numbers:
                                                                   73                                              74
                                                             
Lower body Strength:                 10/16     +6  stand ups               11/15             +4 stand ups
Lower body Flexibility:              0/+5       +5 inches                     -4.25/+1        +5.25 inches
Dynamic Balance & Agility:      8.4/7.3   +1.1 sec faster               6.6/5.4         +1.2 sec faster

AWESOME STUFF!!!!

Translated into normal language, both ladies significantly increased lower body strength.  They built leg muscles standing up and sitting down.  Legs are your fall prevention muscles so this is a big deal.

Both ladies increased lower body flexibility by over five (5) inches!!!  One, can reach her toes for the first time in 30 years and the other can reach five inches past her toes.  This improves their walking gait and eliminates low back pain.

Finally, both ladies can get up and walk quickly and safely around a cone that is eight feet away.  Stronger legs and flexibility in the hamstrings result in quicker movement.  This life saving skill can get a person quickly across the street when the light starts flashing.  Quicker reaction skills and ability to navigate around an object can prevent a fall.  LIFE SAVING.

The senior of the class, my dear 85 year old Audrey, increased in all three components.  She continues to increase her lower body strength, gain flexibility and quicken her reaction speed with each repeat performance.  This session she did increased lower body strength by a sizzling four (4) more stand ups and sit downs.  In FOUR WEEKS!!!