What You Put in Your Body Affects Your Health Greatly

When you're in your senior years, it's important to take fall prevention seriously. A fall can cause a broken hip, and that could have serious consequences when you're older. Rather than living in fear of falling, consider seeing a physical therapist who offers fall prevention therapy for seniors. This therapy builds your strength and your balance so you have a lower risk of falling. Here are some types of training that help prevent falls.

Balance Training

If you have problems with balance, you might overcome them with balance training. A physical therapist can work with you using equipment and exercises that help you be more steady on your feet. They'll always start at your level of balance so you feel secure and gain confidence as your balance improves.

You might do simple moves, such as stand on one foot while holding a table until you're able to do so without swaying. Building balance takes time and practice, but you can get better at it just like you can build muscles over time.

When your balance improves, you can feel more confident when you walk and when you get up from a chair. Plus, if you stumble, you can regain your balance more quickly and keep yourself from falling.

Strength Training

Poor balance could be a matter of weak muscles from a sedentary lifestyle. Your physical therapist might prescribe an exercise routine that develops your muscles so you have better posture and so your muscles can support your body weight more effectively.

The exercises you need to do may not even be strenuous. Rather, their purpose may be to develop a balance between weak muscles and overdeveloped muscles so your body is held in better alignment.

Movement Training

Your physical therapist might recommend movement training that familiarizes you with maintaining balance during different types of movement such as dancing and walking. However, they may want to complete balance and strength training first so you are steady on your feet.

You might focus on maintaining balance while you're moving at first, but then the therapist might provide distractions so you learn to stay balanced without having to focus on it. This reduces your risk of falling since distractions are common, and you need to keep your balance if something grabs your attention while you're walking around your home.

In addition to learning techniques in a fall prevention therapy for seniors program, you can also learn how to stay safer in your house by eliminating trip hazards and setting up your home so you can get in and out of the tub safely and walk around your house without the risk of tripping on a rug or electrical cord.

For more information on fall prevention therapy for seniors, contact a professional near you.