Recently, our clinic has started to see patients who haven’t been super active over the past several months. It’s not their fault. With the pandemic gripping the world, everyone is at home with fewer outlets to maintain their physical health. For many people, including individuals who are 65 years or older, this inactivity could start to negatively impact their health. Luckily, there are ways to improve your balance and decrease the risk of falling. EXERCISE AT HOME A few simple exercises can significantly improve your balance while you’re at home. One of the easiest is to stand on one leg, but follow a few important steps before you get started on this exercise. First, you should test yourself. While standing next to a sturdy chair — one that will not
easily tip over — hold onto it and stand on one foot for as long as you can. Continue this exercise until you can stand on one foot without the chair’s support for one minute. Other exercises include walking heel to toe to improve leg strength, shifting your weight from one leg to the other while shoulder width apart, doing back and side leg raises, and trying wall pushups. A great resource to follow is the YouTube channel “More Life Health Seniors,” where Mike leads you through a series of safe balance exercises. BALANCE EXERCISES AT OUR CLINIC Sometimes balance problems can be a little more complex and require the guidance and support of a licensed physical therapist.
Your balance can improve significantly with specific exercises you do with a physical therapist’s guidance. Our therapists at Kinetic PT Specialists understand the causes and risks of balance problems and will know what to look for when creating a treatment plan specifically for you. To learn more about how our balance disorder experts can help you, call us at 847-515-8970.
Sudoku
Classic Pumpkin Soup
Inspired by MinimalistBaker.com
Pumpkins aren’t just for pie — they make delicious soup, too! This fall, try your hand at this healthy soup recipe and warm up with a bowl.
INGREDIENTS • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 shallots, diced • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 1/4 cups pumpkin purée (homemade or canned) • 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup canned light coconut milk • 2 tbsp honey • 1/4 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté olive oil, shallots, and garlic for 2–3 minutes. 2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. 3. Transfer the soup to a blender and purée. Pour the blended soup back into the pan. 4. Cook over medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes. Taste and add additional seasoning as desired, then serve!
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