Fall Prevention Awareness Week 2020

 As The Fall Prevention Lady, I have been actively involved in promoting awareness of fall risk factors, offering balance assessments and educating older adults how to prevent falls for over fifteen years.  I remember when "Fall Prevention Day" was first recognized and celebrated on the first day of fall or September 23rd.  

Every year since 2008, the third week of September was 'my time to shine'; as a fall prevention educator and balance specialist called 'The Fall Prevention Lady", I was busy giving free educational workshops and organizing and implementing community balance assessments to older adults.  I was one of the original Sacramento Fall Prevention Coalition founding members and with the Area 4 Agency on Aging and Kaiser Permamente, we offered the first community-based fall prevention events.

For the most part, COVID-19  killed community-based fall prevention outreach and I am sad.  I am sad that I did not get to meet hundreds of older adults who are concerned about falling down.  I am sad that these older adults are stuck in their homes, afraid to go out, not allowed to congregate with their peers; thus at increased risk of falling. 

It takes a community to prevent falls.  Unfortunately when the community is no longer able to get together and communicate, the risk of falling increases.  I am saddened that I was not able to offer free workshops and balance assessments to older adults in my community.  I miss the opportunity to meet people who want the education and skills that I have to improve balance and live independently.  

No one knew this was going to happen; in fact, in preparation for fall prevention awareness 2020, I wrote a book, "ABCs to Balance; Aging, Brains and Coordination" to complement my introductory workshops and I fine-tuned my "Brains and Balance" mobility classes for people of all ages and abilities.  

In celebration of Fall Prevention Awareness week past, I would like to offer my new book at a 20% discount.  Click here to get order my book. 

ABCs of Balance: Can't Feel Your Feet?

If you can't feel your feet, you may have a nerve problem.   Because the nerves of the feet go to the brain, you may now have a brain problem.  Everything begins in the brain; and I mean everything; all movement, all feeling, and all thoughts begin in the three-pound organ on top of your head.

The brain is quite fascinating and in it are maps to the entire body.  Messages from the brain are sent to the body parts. The brain has maps so it knows where everything is located.   Maps are like highways; the more a road is travelled, the faster you can go.  No doubt about it, practice makes perfect.

Most of us have had at least one injury.  When an area is injured, we're told not to move it. The longer a body part doesn’t move, the blurrier the map of that body part becomes. Blurry maps make the brain feel unsafe.  When the brain doesn't feel safe, movement suffers.

Your feet are critical to good balance. The brain needs good mapping of the feet for good movement and balance.   The bad news is we rarely move our toes and feet and hardly ever provide sensory stimulation to them. As a result, the brain's map of the feet is blurry.

I'm certain that there are millions of undiagnosed cases of neuropathy (nerve damage) in feet and legs because people think that burning, tingling and loss of sensation in the feet is a 'normal part of aging'.  FALSE!  Healthy nerves do not tingle. Healthy nerves need activation. You need to rub and move your feet and toes regularly.

Some nerve damage is permanent but the science of neuroplasticity shows that nerves can and will regenerate!  Get hopeful.  Move your feet.  Rub your toes.  Pay attention to how your feet feel.  Book a session with me for some sensory stimulation.

I am an input, interpretation and output specialist.  I train the sensory inputs to the brain to improve the brain's ability to interpret the information and decide what to do.  I also train body movement but if you want to move better, let’s start with the inputs.

It's how the nervous system works.  It's science.  Sensory input training can change your life.

This blog is an excerpt from new book, ABC's of Balance: Aging, Balance and Coordination.  A brain-based approach to the prevention of falls.    I will be ready the first week of June!   $29 paperback, $29 Kindle.

If you want to pre-order, leave your name and email address below!

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Nervous System Rule #1 for Better Balance

The nervous system is a complex function that processes over 64 quintillion bits of information each day.  Although every brain is different, there are several unspoken rules that apply to everyone.  In my new book, "ABCs of Balance: Aging, Brains and Coordination", I explain how to age successfully from the brain's perspective.  I've included three unspoken nervous system rules.

Nervous System Rule #1 for better balance

Nervous system rule #1: "Neurons that wire together fire together".  What this means is that you can improve balance by doing drills that activate neurons near the balance nerve.  

Do you know where the brain's balance nerve is located?  It's in the brainstem and it's connected to the brain's equilibrium system.  As mature adults responsible for your well-being, this is important stuff to know!!!

The entire nervous system runs on the use it or lose it principle including balance.  To maintain upright against gravity,  a person must activate cranial nerve #8 and the nerves next to it.

In my new book, "ABCs of Balance: Aging, Brains and Coordination", I explain how the brain works and what the nervous system needs for better balance.  I explain  things in an easy to understand manner and give sample exercises for the reader to try at home.

If you've tried everything and your balance is getting worse, it's time to do something else.   I offer a brain-based approach to the prevention of falls because everything we do begins in the brain. Everything.

My book explains all of this.  If you're like to sign up for the first release of my book, complete the form below.

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Stay Engaged Brain Teasers and ABCs of Balance

Everything we do begins in the brain.  Preventing falls begins in the brain.  Knowing that, a healthy brain is essential for an independent life.  Unfortunately we are stuck in our homes and most of us are not engaging the brain as much as needed.

"The brain needs two things to be healthy; activation and fuel".  I'm sure you are intimately familiar with the "use it or lose it" principle but that applies to the entire nervous system, not just the muscles.

Here are 5 easy brain teasers that improve working memory :  Brain Teasers

Enjoy and Stay Engaged.
Kelly

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Folsom Senior Center offers Brains and Balance Training Sampler

I started teaching workshops at the Folsom Senior Center this summer.  I instantly liked vibe of the center and the awesome staff led by director Recreation Coordinator Ryan Erwin when I visited and the residents make the center even more welcoming.  They are independent older adults enjoying socialization, exercise, art, music and meals and now, my brain-based balance and mobility training classes and workshops.

Folsom Seniors GET IT!;
the importance of training the brain
for better performance!

Over twenty Folsom seniors attended my "ABCs of Balance" workshop and  several brave students practiced lifesaving skills in my "3-Step Get-UP from the floor" workshop.  Fifteen seniors signed up for three (3) sessions of brain-based balance and mobility training.  

The three-session training taught students how to activate the sensory systems of balance.  Our brain determines every movement and training the sensory inputs to the brain directly improves cognitive ability and physical performance.  

Applied neuro-anatomy and neuro-physiology instantly changes the way you move through life, your balance and stability, your vision and your pain level.   As a certified Z-health Neuro-Practitioner, this is the brain-based training I am certified to teach.  

Students moved their feet and walked barefoot.  They moved their eyes and stared at nine locations.  They moved their heads and bounced on their toes.   Their balance and posture improved instantly.  Strength and flexibility increased significantly.  Movement got better. 

Three sessions.  Life looks and feels better.  Movement is more efficient.  

Schedule your introductory workshop and 3-session training package today.  

September session!

4-week Brains and Balance Fall Prevention Training Classes

Folsom Sports Complex.  Clarksville Road Folsom.