Falls are the chief cause of injury-related death for aging adults in America. Two of the major risk factors are poor strength and balance. This is why aging adults need regular work ups and activities that help them stay fit. 55+ communities in Hurst, TX engage their residents with physical therapy, exercise and other exercises to mitigate chronic pain.
Whether the community is resort-style, for singles only, luxury, active or gated, the needs of residents to live above pain is the same.
Physical Activity in 55+ communities
Physical activities are a priority in most retirement communities. These activities range from exercise to therapy and come in different postures to target specific muscles and joints where residents may be experiencing severe pain. Here are a couple of highly rated physical activities that eases chronic pain in aging adults. Most of these exercises can be done out of a gym.
- Balance Exercises
Balance exercises work the core of the muscles, the lower back and the legs. They also improve coordination and reduce falls. It is recommended to start with three to eight repetitions per side the work your way up to a maximum of twelve repetitions. The idea is to keep pushing gradually so that the results can keep getting better. However, you should listen to your body and allow it to get used to the idea of exercise. If you feel frustrated at any point, take a break and start again from a lower threshold.
Note that soreness is not a reason to quit. It is actually a normal part of exercising.
- Lower Body Exercises
Lower body exercises are designed to build strength in the lower back, hips, glutes and legs. These types of exercise give the foundational strength needed to carry out everyday movements. They also help to build balance, speed and stability in the targeted areas. Some lower body exercises include heel raise, rock the boat, calf raise, ankle circle, and so on.
- Upper Body Exercises
Upper body exercises consist of a set of physical motions that target the chest, arms, back, shoulder and sides. They are designed to tone and strengthen the upper body muscles. They also aid flexibility of movement. Some of these exercises include the neck shoulder stretch, shoulder rolls, arm lifts, thoracic rotation stretches and the like.
- Coordination Exercises
Coordination exercises are a bit more advanced than the rest because they involve multiple moves. This means that there is a routine to the exercise. Combining different movements while engaging the two sides of the body improves bodily functions immensely. Such routines are heel lift with alternating arm lifts, heel toe walking, reaction side squats, standing balance with ball tosses and so on.
- Post Workout Postures
These kinds of exercise are done after a workout session and generally help to improve body posture. Some of them are the calf stretch, foot massage and light yoga poses.
Benefits of Physical Activities in 55+ Communities
Exercise plays a major role in our lives. Most people only visualize the physical benefits of physical activity but did you know that exercise improves the mind too? Exercise keeps a person happy, hopeful, motivated, cheerful and in high spirits. In addition, it helps bring chronic pain frequencies to an all time low.
