Have you ever feared falling? I have. With the recent ice storm and frigid weather, I have come close to falling more than once. One Saturday morning I barely noticed the black ice awaiting me in front of my house. I suddenly slipped, but was able to regain my balance and recover without incident. My heart pounded madly, the thought of falling on my recovering left knee seemed imminent. Before my surgery, I had rarely considered the possibility of falling. I went about my usual activities without much regard for the environmental conditions, such as the slick sidewalks, stairs and driveways.
However, my recent knee surgery has put me in a such a different mind set. I now know what it feels like to lose mobility, to have arthritic pain in the knee joint, and just recently I have added a fear of falling to this list.
What is the solution then? Will fear prevent you, me or the senior population, who are especially at risk, from carrying on with the simple activities that many take for granted? The solution is not so simple. There are exercise programs devoted solely to balance and fall prevention.
In my work with boomers and seniors, I focus on this serious issue – falling! I work to reduce the fear by addressing balance, flexibility, stability and strengthening the core. I believe that because my fitness program consists all of these crucial components, they are what saved me from falling on the ice that bitter cold day. My advice is be proactive and make sure that you have a comprehensive fitness program in place and don’t take a thing for granted – like falling.
