UPCOMING SEMINARS
Next personal training seminar is scheduled for September 2008!
PREVIOUS SEMINARS
June: Reduce Stress Through Yoga and Pilates presented by Lisa Eurick-Bolter
May: Creating Realistic and Attainable Fitness Programs presented by Myron Johnson
April: Fall Prevention presented by Faye Korobkin (See article below)
Balance is the ability to maintain the body's position over the base of support (stance) whether the base is stationary or moving.
Are you at risk for falling? You're not alone. Recent research has shown falls account for 87% of all fractures in older adults. While people of all ages fall, accidental falls among older adults are more likely to lead to serious injury and loss of independence. Contrary to what you may believe, FALLS ARE NOT A NATURAL PART OF AGING!
During our recent fall prevention seminars, we explored many of the risk factors for falling. Some of these risk factors occur externally such as tripping on a throw rug or wet or slippery floors. Other risk factors would also involved steps, lighting, furnishings, footwear and clothing, pets, and many other things in our environment. There are also many risk factors that occur internally and affect our physiological balance systems. Chronic health problems such as diabetes and arthritis can affect the body's balance systems, leading to a loss of balance and an inability to recover balance to avoid a fall.
Many medications or combinations of different medications can increase the risk for falling. Changes in vision and hearing, reduced muscle strength and range of motion, increased joint stiffness, and changes in posture and alignment, all contribute to changes in balance and gait. We begin to look down and walk slower, taking wider and smaller steps. Fear of falling and loss of confidence in the ability to maneuver may begin to limit your activities resulting in reduced muscle strength, decreased stimulation of the balance systems, and inattention to the environment. Most falls are the result of a complex interaction among intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The higher the number of risk factors, the greater the risk for falling.
The next step, after assessing your particular risk factors, internal as well as external, is to identify which of those risk factors you can change and thereby reduce your risk of falling. Up to 85% of falls occur in the home . The most common locations for falls within the home are stairways, the bedroom, and the pathway to and from the bathroom. A home safety assessment can be used to identify and correct problem areas. If you have medical concerns, or questions regarding whether medications you are taking are affecting your balance, you should communicate with your physician.
Muscle strength decreases 30-40% or more between the ages of 30 and 70. Unused muscles shorten and become weak. As muscle strength and flexibility decline, the risk for injury and falling increase. This loss of muscle strength and flexibility can be prevented and improved with exercise! A comprehensive exercise program designed to improve balance and prevent falls should include balance exercises, muscle strengthening, and exercise to increase flexibility and joint range of motion.
The JCC has a beautiful, state-of the-art facility complete with so many different options for exercise. You have the power to reduce your risk factors for falling and improve the quality of your life. We are here to help you accomplish your goals.
If you are interested in attending fall prevention seminars or classes in the future, please contact Jenni Sundby, Fitness Coordinator, at jsundby@jccmilwaukee.org or 414.967.8265.
If you are interested in learning how to use the equipment or would like to inquire about personal training sessions, please contact Howard Wagan, Personal Training Coordinator, at hwagan@jccmilwaukee.com or 414.967.8277.
