Aging Issues and Podcasts
Pandemic vs. Our Balance
Is there a COVID connection to a decrease in balance and an increase in falls? You bet there is, especially since a lot of older adults are not participating in their regular workout routines. Even if they are doing a lot of walking, which is wonderful exercise, they are not getting all the aspects of their past regular workouts. For example, Silver Sneakers exercise classes and the like, focus on Agility, Balance, Coordination, Speed, and Power fitness components. Also cognitive health and flexibility is incorporated into the fitness regimens.
Maintaining one’s balance also requires engaging three senses, which include Vestibular, Somatosensory/Proprioception , and Vision. So it is imperative to find and further our practice of all-encompassing exercise practice to maintain and improve our balance. Research has shown that practicing a varied fitness component program 3x/week ,10-45 minutes at a time is imperative to help maintain balance. It will take 4 to 8 weeks to see changes in your balance. And it will take 6-12 months to keep those changes. So guess what, it is an ongoing lifelong practice to keep ourselves healthy and strong to prevent falls.
During this Pandemic period and beyond, make sure that your exercise program and personal daily health includes the following: Strength, Cardio, Flexibility, Balance training, proper Sleep affects our balance, Medications can cause dizziness, and even our Mood (depression, fear, stress) can affect our balance. Also make sure your Vision has been checked since it is a key component for safety awareness and fall prevention. Our balance is affected by many things and the mental and physical stress that this COVID Pandemic has brought to all of us is life changing. Look at your personal practices and ask yourself if you are doing all that you can to maintain your health as well as your Balance. Balance techniques can be learned quickly, but if not maintained…. You can Use it or Lose it! Solidify it with 6 to 12 months of weekly practice. Make the exercises or stretches a part of your daily routine as you cook, brush your teeth, incorporate them into your walk, etc. If you need help with your personal program, I would be glad to assist.
My business is www.agingisnot4sissies.com. I have always loved that saying and it is so true. If you are in need of an exercise program or Balance program, please look up my business and my virtual classes. My classes are for Silver Sneakers members and Non-members. If you don’t use my classes, SilverSneakers.com has varied class videos to choose from, as well as the internet is loaded with videos. Just be smart in what you choose for yourself. One exercise class does not necessarily mean one size fits all for those of us that are older adults or with limitations of different kinds. Personalize it and make it fun!
Just because we are in a Pandemic, does not mean that there are not options to keep ourselves strong and balanced in mind, body, and spirit! Fall prevention is a key to keep us out of the hospitals and not compromise our health in any way.
Enjoy Aging Issues Podcasts below with Colin Milner from International Council on Active Aging. Colin “Rethinks Aging” with his guests. Excellent information that expands your thoughts on aging! Episode 1 with Ashton Applewhite is on my Blog page.
