Having just attended the PANC/Parkinson Wise train-the-trainer workshop at Kaiser on Saturday, I am proud to share some remarkable balance and fitness pre/post data from the FallProof™ classes I just finished at Fit4U in Carmichael, CA.
The first set of data reflect a 66-year old participant living with Parkinson's Disease. Here are her scores:
Session #1:
Lower body strength: 13 chair stands in 30s
Lower body flexibility: 10" inches from toes
Dynamic Balance and Agility: 6.5 seconds to walk 8'
Session #8: IMPROVEMENT
Lower body strength: 16 chair stands in 30s +3 chair stands
Lower body flexibility: 6" inches from toes +4 inches
Dynamic Balance and Agility: 5.9 seconds to walk 8' .6 second faster
While all of the participants deserve special recognition, I would like to also mention another "most improved" participant; an 85-year old woman with extreme knee and shoulder pain and limitations.
Her pre/post data:
Session #1:
Lower body strength: 8 chair stands in 30s (used hands to get up)
Lower body flexibility: 3.5" inches from toes
Dynamic Balance and Agility: 8.6 seconds to walk 8'
Session #8: IMPROVEMENT
Lower body strength: 9 chair stands in 30s NO HANDS +1 chair stand
Lower body flexibility: 2.1" inches from toes +1.9 inches
Dynamic Balance and Agility: 6.7 seconds to walk 8' +1.9 seconds faster
Super big congratulations to everyone who participated in this four-week training program. Your hard work and effort truly paid off. I am so proud of each and every person for sticking with it and having the mindset that they CAN DO THIS.
It's never too late to improve flexibility, increase strength and improve MOVING balance and agility; three very important risk factors related to falls. Numbers don't lie and the improvements are evident to friends, family and especially your MOVEMENT RE-EDUCATOR and BALANCE AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST!
XO
The FPL
Monday, May 2, 2016
Sunday, April 10, 2016
....the next think I know, I was on the floor....
I just started two new FallProof™ balance and mobility training classes in Carmichael, California; one at Carmichael Presbyterian Church and one at Fit4U. As we were doing introductions and sharing fall stories, I quickly discovered a common theme when listening to the fall stories with my group at Carmichael Presbyterian Church; six out of ten people who shared a fall story stated, "I don't know what happened but the next thing I know I was on the floor".
Falls happen so fast, that many times, you don't see it coming. In fact, a quarter of one second determines if you will fall or not. Our balance system is simply amazing; your body has to identify an imbalance, send that message to the brain and AND the body must respond appropriately, all in less than a quarter of a second or you will fall.
In my Fall Prevention 101™ workshops, I educate about the exact body systems involved in keeping us upright and factors that affect the efficiency of those messages. Our balance is an intricate messenger system and as you can see, if ONE link in that system is altered or delayed, it is likely a fall will happen.
My dynamic workshop is unique because I don't throw out a bunch of scary statistics and talk for an hour about the same old things. Believe me when I say my workshop is a must attend event! I have presented throughout the country and every single attendee has left my workshop feeling empowered and ready to make at least one change.
If you want to attend, please visit my website, The Fall Prevention Lady.com and check out my local schedule. If you would like me to visit your church, your support group, your community meeting or your special interest group, let me know! I will come to you! Fee is involved.
Falls are not a normal part of growing older; the risk can be reduced. First, let me shed some new light on the balance system so you can make a personalized plan to improve your balance.
The Fall Prevention Lady
Falls happen so fast, that many times, you don't see it coming. In fact, a quarter of one second determines if you will fall or not. Our balance system is simply amazing; your body has to identify an imbalance, send that message to the brain and AND the body must respond appropriately, all in less than a quarter of a second or you will fall.
In my Fall Prevention 101™ workshops, I educate about the exact body systems involved in keeping us upright and factors that affect the efficiency of those messages. Our balance is an intricate messenger system and as you can see, if ONE link in that system is altered or delayed, it is likely a fall will happen.
My dynamic workshop is unique because I don't throw out a bunch of scary statistics and talk for an hour about the same old things. Believe me when I say my workshop is a must attend event! I have presented throughout the country and every single attendee has left my workshop feeling empowered and ready to make at least one change.
If you want to attend, please visit my website, The Fall Prevention Lady.com and check out my local schedule. If you would like me to visit your church, your support group, your community meeting or your special interest group, let me know! I will come to you! Fee is involved.
Falls are not a normal part of growing older; the risk can be reduced. First, let me shed some new light on the balance system so you can make a personalized plan to improve your balance.
The Fall Prevention Lady
Thursday, October 29, 2015
FallProof™ balance training improves coordination after a stroke
I teach FallProof™ balance and mobility classes throughout the Sacramento area and I currently have several class participants who are living life after a stroke. Because the program I teach trains both the muscles and senses, some exercises can be especially challenging for these individuals due to motor sensory deficits.
Determined, these participants push themselves to do the exercises when the body doesn't respond as efficiently as it once did. Dedicated, these participants are focused on getting the body to function like it once did. Having had to learn to walk again after a near fatal car accident when I was 17, I feel their frustration but I am living testimony that impulses can return to normal.
Regenerating neural impulses takes time! Rarely do I see marked improvement in four weeks but changes become noticeable after a six-week program. That's why I'm excited when persons who had a stroke repeats my class. I've been told repeating the FallProof™ program is like reading a good book; you learn something new the second, third and even fourth time.
One 89 year-old gentleman is currently repeating the six-week balance and mobility program. Today was class #7 and he showed such a MARKED improvement in his walking gait and movement patterns that his classmates commented about his progress. His gait is more steady, his movements are more efficient and his confidence has doubled.
Today he had a "lightbulb" moment that made me realize the importance of consistent practice. After nine weeks of training, he finally understood the correlation between toes coming up and loss of balance! Although he still needs work on his reaction strategy, he gets it! This man is determined to improve and the results of training are starting to catch up. The entire class applauded when he went through the obstacle course and he was grinning ear to ear.
A retired physical therapist who had a stroke, Christina is also starting to show significant improvement in her walking gait and reaction strategies. Also a repeat student, she tends to 'overthink' things but when she relaxes and does the exercises, her body moves efficiently and she is more stable. Yesterday was the fist day in seven weeks that she did not shuffle! She took longer strides and you could NOT wipe the smile off her face when the class applauded her efforts.
I absolutely love what I do and I look forward to working with as many people as I can to improve coordination and reduce the risk of an accidental fall.
Blessings~
The Fall Prevention Lady
Determined, these participants push themselves to do the exercises when the body doesn't respond as efficiently as it once did. Dedicated, these participants are focused on getting the body to function like it once did. Having had to learn to walk again after a near fatal car accident when I was 17, I feel their frustration but I am living testimony that impulses can return to normal.
Regenerating neural impulses takes time! Rarely do I see marked improvement in four weeks but changes become noticeable after a six-week program. That's why I'm excited when persons who had a stroke repeats my class. I've been told repeating the FallProof™ program is like reading a good book; you learn something new the second, third and even fourth time.
One 89 year-old gentleman is currently repeating the six-week balance and mobility program. Today was class #7 and he showed such a MARKED improvement in his walking gait and movement patterns that his classmates commented about his progress. His gait is more steady, his movements are more efficient and his confidence has doubled.
Today he had a "lightbulb" moment that made me realize the importance of consistent practice. After nine weeks of training, he finally understood the correlation between toes coming up and loss of balance! Although he still needs work on his reaction strategy, he gets it! This man is determined to improve and the results of training are starting to catch up. The entire class applauded when he went through the obstacle course and he was grinning ear to ear.
A retired physical therapist who had a stroke, Christina is also starting to show significant improvement in her walking gait and reaction strategies. Also a repeat student, she tends to 'overthink' things but when she relaxes and does the exercises, her body moves efficiently and she is more stable. Yesterday was the fist day in seven weeks that she did not shuffle! She took longer strides and you could NOT wipe the smile off her face when the class applauded her efforts.
I absolutely love what I do and I look forward to working with as many people as I can to improve coordination and reduce the risk of an accidental fall.
Blessings~
The Fall Prevention Lady
Monday, October 26, 2015
Stay on your feet for the HOLIDAYS!!!
Believe it or not, there are only eight (8) Fridays until Christmas! That means it's time to go shopping and face the crowds. The older we get, the scarier big crowds become since people don't pay attention to where they're going and most of the time there are kids running around like wild animals. Not a good combination for someone who's balance 'isn't what it used to be'....
DON'T FEAR! You have plenty of time to improve your balance skills and get "FallProof™'ed for the holidays! Certified balance and mobility specialist and national public speaker, Kelly Ward, aka, The Fall Prevention Lady, is offering educational workshops and condensed balance training sessions designed to keep you on your feet and to fit anyone's busy schedule.
Avoid a fall this holiday season. First line of defense: learn what's causing your imbalance. Second, practice evidence-based balance training techniques designed to prevent falls and thirdly, learn life-saving tips that you will use long after the holiday rush.
How can you stay balanced? Simply join Sacramento's own "Fall Prevention Lady" for one of her dynamic "Fall Prevention 101™" workshops followed by her new "Balance Training 101™"exercises classes. Learn what causes falls and then learn how to improve your balance. Kelly teaches physical therapy training techniques that you can modify to fit your fitness level and unique challenges.
You must attend the educational workshop (Fall Prevention 101) to attend the ninety-minute Balance Training 101 exercise class. If you want to continue taking classes to improve your balance, Kelly is offering both two-week and four-week FallProof™ balance training sessions at Parkside Community Church.
Please visit Kelly's website, THE FALL PREVENTION LADY.COM under local schedule to find out where she will be offering these life-saving classes.
Classes start in November and early December! Invest in yourself this holiday and give yourself the gift of balance. You deserve it and remember, be good to yourself so you can be good to those you love.
Happy Holidays. Already!
The Fall Prevention Lady
DON'T FEAR! You have plenty of time to improve your balance skills and get "FallProof™'ed for the holidays! Certified balance and mobility specialist and national public speaker, Kelly Ward, aka, The Fall Prevention Lady, is offering educational workshops and condensed balance training sessions designed to keep you on your feet and to fit anyone's busy schedule.
Avoid a fall this holiday season. First line of defense: learn what's causing your imbalance. Second, practice evidence-based balance training techniques designed to prevent falls and thirdly, learn life-saving tips that you will use long after the holiday rush.
How can you stay balanced? Simply join Sacramento's own "Fall Prevention Lady" for one of her dynamic "Fall Prevention 101™" workshops followed by her new "Balance Training 101™"exercises classes. Learn what causes falls and then learn how to improve your balance. Kelly teaches physical therapy training techniques that you can modify to fit your fitness level and unique challenges.
You must attend the educational workshop (Fall Prevention 101) to attend the ninety-minute Balance Training 101 exercise class. If you want to continue taking classes to improve your balance, Kelly is offering both two-week and four-week FallProof™ balance training sessions at Parkside Community Church.
Please visit Kelly's website, THE FALL PREVENTION LADY.COM under local schedule to find out where she will be offering these life-saving classes.
Classes start in November and early December! Invest in yourself this holiday and give yourself the gift of balance. You deserve it and remember, be good to yourself so you can be good to those you love.
Happy Holidays. Already!
The Fall Prevention Lady
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Fall Prevention 101™ by Kelly Ward, M.S., CTRS
Researched and created by certified FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Specialist and Stepping On Master Trainer Kelly Ward, M.S., CTRS.
Dynamic workshop about factors that increase the risk of falling and how older adults can reduce that risk. Supplemental workbook required.
Copyright 2012.
Dynamic workshop about factors that increase the risk of falling and how older adults can reduce that risk. Supplemental workbook required.
Copyright 2012.
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