Parkside balance training results will blow your mind!

I just finished a four-week balance training class series at Parkside Community Church on the southside of town.  Becky Anton is the Parish Nurse and I have been working with her to improve quality of life for the community since my graduate studies in 2008.   Teaching fall prevention classes at Parkside is like going home; I lived in the area during my graduate studies and my passion for teaching older adults how to NOT fall down started in this very church.  Nearly ten years later, Becky is retiring and I'm still teaching!

This group was smaller than normal with five women between the ages of 67 and 76.  I was blessed to have former FallProof™research study participant and FallProof™ class attendee Pat (who is now 90 years old and no falls) join us on Thursdays.  She couldn't make Tuesday class because it interfered with her computer class at ACC!

The post-assessment results for this small group are HUGE!  Let's start with lower body strength, the number one indicator of fall risk.  While everyone improved in this area, some of the improvements were significant.  Pat, 90 years old, did six more chair stands and did not use her hands to get up.  That is amazing!  The sixty-seven and 68-year old participants did an additional 5 and 4 stands, respectively.  Huge improvements in the fall prevention muscles in only four weeks!

The average increase in lower body flexibility was between an inch and half an inch; you know the difference between tripping over the uneven sidewalk or not.  The ability to pick up your toes when walking and how you walk directly impact your risk of a fall.  We address both of these elements throughout this balance training series.  The 67 year-old retired teacher increased her lower body flexibility by three (3) inches.  Combined with increased lower body strength of 5 stands, she improved her dynamic balance over half a second.

Dynamic balance is the combination of both lower body strength and flexibility and this directly affects overall agility and ability to navigate obstacles quickly and safely. Dynamic balance score improvements were significant; our 68-year old who had prior left ankle and right shoulder fractures increased her dynamic balance and agility by 3.3 seconds!  Wow.  The tall, lanky 73-year old who recently had a left hip replacement improved her speed by 2.4 seconds.  Bam! Faithful Pat was one second faster.  This is wonderful news!

It may have been a small class but the results are HUGE!  The impact that these fitness parameters has on fall risk is astounding; these ladies now have stronger, more flexible legs that react quicker to external, environmental demands.  This is fall prevention in action!  This is successful balance training.  I am so proud of each and every participant for their time, dedication and energy.  Great class.

Next class at Parkside begins the Tuesday after Easter.  Visit my website for details. Website 

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HUGE improvements marked in first FallProof™ class at Parkside

I am back in Sacramento and just completed my first four-week FallProof™ balance and mobility training session at Parkside Community Church in Sacramento, CA.   We had a small group but the results were huge!  As always, I measured three fitness components associated with increased fall risk both on the first and last day of class.  Every person in the group improved in at least one of the measurements, most improving scores in all three areas.

My youngest participant was a 70-year old woman and she showed significant increases in both lower body strength and lower body flexibility.  My oldest was an 85-year old man and despite admittedly NOT doing the homeplay exercises, he still improved lower body flexibility by 3 inches.  His wife, a lovely lady who is living with Parkinson's Disease, improved her dynamic balance and flexiblity speed by nearly 3 seconds.   Another 76-year old woman significantly improved all three balance, strength and flexibility scores.  She's bringing her husband to the next session. Woo-hoo!!!

A long-time participant is facing physical decline due to a recent diagnosis.  Despite her condition, she was able to maintain both balance and strength.  Sometimes an appropriate goal might be to just maintain what we have and that's a good thing!   I love being back "home" doing what I do; teaching older adults how to not fall down.

Next class at Parkside Community Church begins on July 15, 2013.  Classes will meet on Monday and Friday afternoons from 3-4 pm for four weeks.  The last class is on August 9th.  Cost for the eight sessions is $99 per person.

Invest in your independence!

The Fall Prevention Lady
Kelly Ward
info@thefallpreventionlady.com

2-week balance training refresher course

Balance training takes practice but sometimes life gets in the way and we get busy.  If you don't practice strengthening, stretching and balance exercises regularly, your endurance levels will drop, your strength will diminish and your muscles will get tight.  All this affects your risk of a fall.

I just finished both beginner and intermediate level balance and mobility training sessions at Parkside Community Church and one of my most loyal members is going to France with her granddaughter at the end of June.  She knows that she needs to keep practicing if she wants to enjoy her vacation but she also knows that she won't do the exercises at home.

For this reason, I decided to offer a "2-week refresher course" for any and all participants who have completed my beginner level training.  If you have attended one of my classes, please drop by and refresh your balance skills, connect with old friends and see your favorite instructor!

When:  Tuesday and Thursdays, 1:30-2:30pm
             June 5, 7, 12, 14
Where:  Parkside Community Church
             5700 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA  95822
Cost:  $8 per class.  You don't have to attend all of the classes.

Make balance training part of your daily routine.  Stop in for a refresher course!  Let's get Joyce to France!

Making the connection; exercise prevents falls

Today started a new balance and mobility training session for the Fall Prevention Lady at Parkside Community Church.  This class meets Monday and Friday mornings from 9:30-10:30AM.  Since I provide small group training, the class is small and for the first time in 6 years of teaching fall prevention classes, there were more men than women!  


It's so exciting to see that more men are starting to realize that they HAVE to get active if they want to stay active!.  As we introduced ourselves and our expectations of the class, one statement made my day.  When asked why he was taking the class, the response was, "I fell the other day and landed on my knee and my face (he had the bruises to show it).  I realized then that I have to start exercising if I want to prevent another fall."

I teared up with joy when I heard that!  Why?  As the Fall Prevention Lady,  I have been studying, developing and practicing exercises that help prevent falls since 2006.  I eat, breathe and sleep fall prevention!  In fact, it has been demonstrated that exercise is the #1 way to prevent falls.  Participating in a strengthening, flexibility, balance and endurance training program is the best way to remain independent.

Now you understand why I was overjoyed to hear that this 83 year-old gentleman made the connection:  EXERCISE PREVENTS FALLS.

Hallejuah!

New fall prevention risk assessment testing site!

I just confirmed another testing site for my fall prevention exercise research study; Parkside Community Church in the Pocket area!
On Thursday, July 29 from 11am-3pm, I will be conducting the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB)scale to assess fall risk among participants. In this 10-item screening test, I will assess the body systems involved in balance and mobility. As a certified FallProof™ instructor, I am qualified to implement this research-based fall risk screening test.
Participants receive one-on-one instruction during the test to ensure personal safety. An individualized score card is sent to participants providing feedback on performance and overall fall risk. These test items were developed by Dr.Debra Rose, co-director of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence and director of the Center of Successful Aging and can be a real eye opener to those who do not consider themselves at risk for falling.

Although it is my hope to identify candidates for my Fall Prevention Exercise research study, I will assess anyone who is interested in doing this test. I invite you to come out and get assessed!

THURSDAY JULY 29, 2010
11AM-3PM
PARKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH
5700 South Land Park Drive
Sacramento, CA 95822-3309