Put some balance back in your day

20 April 2010

There are plenty of reasons why it’s important to adopt a healthy approach to exercise, but did you know that exercise can be directly linked with your risk of having a serious, injury-causing fall?

When the muscles in your legs are strong your balance will be improved. It’s important to have strength and balance to stay standing tall.

Warialda Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) is helping raise awareness of the importance of exercising by encouraging all Warialda members follow a few simple tips to ensure they can stay strong, balanced and flexible.

“Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospital admissions in people aged 65 years and over,” LHAC chair Dave Conway said.

“After being admitted to hospital, people are often unable to return to their own home, and therefore may need to live in residential aged care.

“The good news is, you can maintain your independence by keeping your body strong, balanced and flexible. You are more likely to regain your balance and save yourself from falling if you exercise regularly,” Dave explained.

“Good balance when we are standing and moving is important. It helps us to maintain our posture and not fall when we move around. Our body relies on quick reaction times and good coordination so we can recover our posture if we trip or lose balance.

“Strength is also important for undertaking every day activities such as getting out of bed, rising from a chair and walking up and down steps.

“Enjoyable exercise is the best activity to do to improve strength, balance and coordination. Exercise which challenges balance is best, a good example is Tai Chi or exercise programs which challenge your sense of balance.”

Tips to get you going, and keep you moving:

• Make exercise part of your daily routine.
• Choose an activity that’s enjoyable and comfortable.
• Exercise with a friend or in a group, provides a social side to exercise.
• Remember you are always young enough to exercise.
• Check with your doctor before you start any exercise program.
• If you feel unsteady use a sturdy support to put your hands on such as a kitchen table, sturdy chair back or the kitchen bench while exercising. It should be at waist height.
• Each exercise should include three stages: warming up, your exercises and cooling down.
• Be gentle with your body, giving it time to adjust

(HNE-2233)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: 0428 106 183