Many of our elderly loved ones face uphill battles with their balance and mobility. It sounds like a pun. And, we suppose it is. But it’s an apt way to describe the difficulty associated with the supposedly simple acts of walking, climbing up and down stairs and even standing up from a seated position. Naturally, our strength lessens with age. However, there are a number of ways that seniors can improve their balance and mobility, regardless of their age.

Here are three:

1. Engage in low-impact exercises to strengthen the core and legs.

As you can imagine, one’s core and leg strength play major roles in his/her ability to maintain balance. It is recommended that all seniors engage in some form of light exercise to help improve their overall health. However, for strength and balance requirements, low-impact exercises that strengthen the core and legs are best.

“Whenever walking around or bending over, all the muscles in the legs and midsection flex and release to keep them upright,” explains Kate Hansford of Perth, Australia’s Home Care Assistance, “When these muscles atrophy, it is much more difficult to maintain balance and recover from a fall. Many low-impact exercises strengthen the core and legs, but seniors should always speak with their doctors before starting any workout routine.”

2. Engage in strength training.

In some cases, seniors may need to take things a notch up from traditional exercises. As Tim Brewer of Uplifting Mobility reports, seniors can still gain muscle, even if they’ve never done any weight training before. He advises, of course, that elderly people who decide to hit the gym take it “nice and slow”. However, he highlights the benefits of strength training for those who wish to improve their balance and mobility.

“While someone that has strength trained their whole life may not be able to gain more muscle, if you haven’t strength trained seriously, you can gain muscle and strength to help you regain your mobility,” writes Brewer, “A personal trainer that deals with senior strength training is best. You’ll likely be in the gym 3 – 4 times a week, and this will be more than enough time to be able to build strength, lose fat and regain your balance.”

3. Take advantage of the ideal walking aid.

At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we proudly offer such mobility solutions as manual and electric wheelchairs, wheeled walkers and rollators. Each of these walking aids has significantly improved the lives of the clients who use them. Your independence can be restored once you select the mobility solution that is right for you!

“Walking unassisted is great, but if your balance is impaired, the worst thing you can do is not walk with a walking aid,” says Brewer, “Use a walking aid that offers maximum mobility while working all your muscles properly.”

If you have any questions about the mobility solutions offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!