Balance Training for Elderly Mobility
Slip and fall accidents are some of the most common causes of traumatic injuries in the elderly population. Balance training can help elderly individuals prevent falls. This can prevent catastrophic injuries from occurring. As people age, their bodies undergo a significant amount of wear and tear. This predisposes elderly individuals to slip and fall accidents. Some of the most common reasons why these accidents might occur include:
- Walking on slick floors
- Walking on uneven or icy sidewalks
- Falling down staircases
Some of the traumatic injuries that individuals might sustain include:
- Bone fractures such as hip fractures, femur fractures, or tibia fractures
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Damaged knee ligaments including the anterior cruciate ligament, MCL, PCL, and LCL
Slip and fall accidents, combined with the injuries discussed above, can lead to significant mobility problems. Balance training can play an essential role in preventing these falls from occurring.
An Overview of Balance Training
Balance training has become a crucial part of daily physical activity for many elderly individuals. The entire goal of balance training is to prevent people from falling. There are a variety of exercises that people can perform. Some of these include:
- Standing on one leg for a few seconds at a time
- Walking in a tandem walk, also known as a heel-to-toe walk
- Torso rotation while balancing on one leg
- Alternating arm raises while balancing on one leg
- Calf raises
- Push-ups against the wall
- Wall sits
The goal of these exercises is to strengthen the tendons, ligaments, muscles, and improve coordination to prevent falls. These exercises will keep the muscle strong and can prevent elderly individuals from losing their balance while walking down the stairs, or while walking through a dark room. By preventing falls, serious traumatic injuries could also be avoided.
Watch YouTube Video: Balance Exercises for Seniors – Fall Prevention. In this video, fitness expert Deron Buboltz demonstrates some fun step-by-step balance exercises for the elderly.
Fall Prevention is Critical
In addition to balance training, some other methods of fall prevention include:
- Ensuring that rooms are always well-lit.
- Placing banisters near walkways for added balance.
- Making sure that all staircases have railings.
- Using inclines and ramps in place of stairs when possible.
- Trying to keep the activities of daily living confined to one room when possible.
Contacting a Personal Injury Lawyer
If a loved one has sustained a severe injury, particularly in their later years, there are serious complications that can result. Slip and fall accidents in the elderly population can lead to a severe mobility reduction, leading to a loss of independence. This can place the entire family under a significant amount of stress. In this situation, families need to remember that a Sacramento personal injury lawyer is always available. Some of the ways that an experienced injury attorney can help include:
- Helping families review all of their options, ensuring that they make an objective decision that will set them up for a recovery.
- Assisting families and filing for damages related to the accident, any injuries that might have resulted, and their complications.
- Moving a case to trial when required.
Take a few minutes to speak with a personal injury lawyer in Sacramento. You and your family could be owed a financial reward.
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. Balance training can help improve flexibility and prevent falls in the elderly, helping to avoid serious traumatic injuries. If your family member has suffered severe injuries in a traumatic accident, call me at (800) 404-5400 or (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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