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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Never too late, or TOO EARLY, to improve balance skills

When it comes to self-improvement, we always hear, "It's never too late" to improve this or that.  In the case of successful aging, it's been proven time and time again that 'It's never too late to IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE'!  

But what about too early?  Is it ever too early to begin an exercise and movement-oriented program to improve your balance and mobility?  The answer is a resounding NO; it's never too early to benefit from a multi-sensory balance training program designed to improve balance skills required in every day life!  I know because I have kept data on all class participants from every FallProof™ class that I have taught in the past eight years.

In fact, I have seen some of the most significant improvements in the three fitness components necessary to prevent falls among people in their 60s!!!  That's because Dr. Rose of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence in Fullerton, CA designed FallProof™ classes for anyone over the age of 60 who is at high to moderate risk of a fall.

For everyone who has planned for their retirement years, congratulations.  You made it! Now that you're here, it's time to start planning for the next chapter of your life!  It's time to invest in your health and well-being for the years ahead.  And that includes long-term safety strategies to keep you in your home for as long as possible.  

In order to remain independent and doing the things you enjoy, consistent exercise and movement are absolutely necessary and it's never too early to improve your balance skills. The specialized training I offer challenges both the muscles AND senses involved in balance.  I also offer neural training to help break poor movement patterns that cause pain and result in weak muscles.    

Pain-free movement, improved balance and increased strength?  Absolutely.  Is this too good to be true? Nope.  Is it too early to start?  Heck no.  Too late to improve? Absolutely not!

Get started today!
The Fall Prevention Lady

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