Exercise may make seniors more confident, less likely to fall
April 4, 2011
Experts suggest that a fear of falling in one’s home may actually increase the chance that the incident will occur. In fact, one study discovered that the more a senior feared a fall, the more likely they were to suffer an accident, according to MSN.com[1].
Dr. Dulce Cruz-Oliver told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that seniors who have fallen in the past are also at a higher risk.
Older adults who are living alone who are worried about their safety may want to consider investing in a personal emergency response system. These medical alert systems can be used to instantly send a medical alert if one requires assistance.
“There are many [other] factors that contribute to the increased risk, including changes in posture and gait, medical conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease and stroke, poor eyesight and hearing,” Cruz explained to the publication.
She added that one of the most effective ways of avoiding a fall is to improve one’s balance through exercise. Helpful activities include Tai Chi, yoga, dancing, physical therapy and gait-training. Seniors should stick with one fitness regimen one to three times a week for 12 weeks if they are serious about seeing improvement in coordination.
