Flexibility and Balance for Seniors

As we age, we grow stiff. Somehow the joints aren’t that flexible anymore. It is more difficult to get out from a car and even to sink into the seat, if you are a front passenger. Getting up from a chair also makes your knee joints protest. If you stand too long you may find your knees have “locked” and it can cause some discomfort when you try to “unlock” to walk or sit. Are you familiar with any of these?

I am and have been falling quite often lately. Not that I want to fall but somehow I find myself on the ground or floor depending on whether I’m indoors or out.

My doctor has been very kind and I attend her weekly exercise clinic at the hospital where senior ladies do their exercises under the nurses’ supervision. Balance and strengthening our muscles are what we do in our weekly sessions.

I have to do exercises to strengthen my hand and leg muscles so that I can “break” my fall or suffer less injury when I do fall. The exercises I do are for muscle strength and muscle power apart from improving my balance.

Balance is most important so that you won’t fall should you find yourself losing balance. You can quickly take steps to stop yourself from falling.

I’m most grateful to the doctor who is very caring and concerned over her charges whom she calls her “beautiful princesses”, among whom are those who have had knee replacements, fractured bones and who have twisted ankles and tennis elbows. We are all there each week to strengthen our muscles and to build better balance. It is a privilege to attend her special clinic, a rainbow privilege.