Balance Exercises for Seniors

Most people do not notice their balance is slowly deteriorating over years because they never check it. Fortunately your balance can be improved by challenging yourself through a variety of standing and sitting on the ball exercises.

This book contains simple balance and stability exercises for those getting started. The ball series starts with sitting on the ball to slowly build core and back stability safely. It progresses to exercises that slowly challenge people at their own pace. It also includes a variety of exercises for a full body workout.

Balance is a skill that many people lose over time. Eventually a person can't take their pants off in the dark without feeling unsteady. This happens when the body stops listening to their foot, ankle, knee, and hip joint receptors. For a variety of reasons the body mainly uses the input from the eyes to keep steady. The dark room limits the input to the eyes and people wobble.

For long term improvement, you need to teach the brain to listen to the lower extremity joints receptors and strengthen the stabilizer muscles.

The secret is to "challenge but not overwhelm." Difficult exercises are included for those who want to improve their strength with push ups, planks, and mountain climbers on the exercise ball.

Our office uses these exercises for many adults and seniors who need to build strength, endurance, and balance. Mastering the exercise will improve your functional abilities and avoid future injuries.

Nobody likes working on exercises they are not very good at. We all want to work on things that we enjoy and feel that we do a great job with. Many of the exercises and stability work are difficult and challenge your system. It challenges all of the things you are not very good at, for a very good reason. You have balance issues because the system is compromised.

Over time you will notice improvement in your ability to perform these exercises. You will be able to do them longer and with better control. The improvement will also be seen in daily activities, recreational activities, and hobbies.