How's Your Balance?

Health & Wellness Newsletter by Agility Physical Therapy And Sports Performance

Health &Wellness The Newsletter About Your Health And Caring For Your Body

How’s Your BALANCE? Here’s a simple test for you:

Can you close your eyes and stand steady on one leg for 10 seconds? If not, then your balance is not up to par. Your ability to balance is an incredibly complex action that requires millions of nerves and hundreds of muscles to work together to help you move and stop you from falling over on your face. Many people think having poor balance happens in just older people. However, poor balance is one of the leading causes for sports injuries, chronic back pain and much more. Having poor balance often goes undetected until it is very severe and puts one at exceptional risk for injury. It is even worse for older adults, especially over age 65, of which one third fall each year. People who experience a fall are at increased risk for future falls too. Major injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and soft tissue injuries, occur in about 10% of individual falls. However, minor injuries are much more common. Balance and walking progressively decline as you age. There can be fears of going up steps or curbs, walking on grass or walking in dark areas of your house. One reason is joint stiffness and weakness in muscles of the hips, lower extremities and feet. When there is a loss of the mobility in the ankle joint and multiple joints of the foot, you cannot adapt well to uneven terrain.

IMPROVEMYAGILITY.COM

A Simple Test

Do You Know That You Have More Than 5 Senses? Proprioception is your ability to sense the position of all your joints. With a lessened sense of proprioception, a person has to look directly at the limb they are moving in order to perceive its desired movement; something they used to do without even thinking about it. The good news is, that like any other activity, proprioception can be re-learned with physical therapy. There is a lot that can be done to improve your balance. The key is physical therapy. With hands on therapy to improve your joint mobility and simple strengthening and balance exercises taught to you, you can improve your balance, walking and feel like your normal self. The Gait and Balance Program at Agility Physical Therapy and Sports Performance is ideal to improve your balance, increase your walking, improve your movement and get you back to living life at your maximum potential. Ask your doctor today about coming to Agility Physical Therapy and Sports Performance and becoming better balanced.

IMPROVEMYAGILITY.COM

Be A Hero To Your Loved Ones

Refer a Friend

Do You Have Friends or Family Unable to Do The Following? • Move without pain • Bend and move freely • Balance confidently and securely • Walk for long distances • Live an active and healthy lifestyle

If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Agility Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly for a FREE Pain or Injury Analysis.

IMPROVEMYAGILITY.COM

CALL TODAY! 941-484-8107

Don’t let poor balance become a way of life Move Freely • Alleviate Pain Naturally • Have More Energy • Enjoy Activities Pain Free • Be Stronger Do you suffer with poor balance, and fear it will get worse? IT’S EASY TO GET HELP FOR BALANCE

Talk to One Of Our Physical Therapy Therapists

FREE BALANCE ANALYSIS

Call To Schedule Today (941) 484-8107

Offer valid for the first 25 people to schedule. Expires 12-30-16.

Staff Spotlight

Jeffrey Shand, Rehab Tech Jeffrey has been a rehab tech with Agility since the fall of 2013. He is responsible for assisting with patient care and provides support for our PTs, PTAs, fitness clients, personal trainers and all administrative staff; and he does it all with a willing heart and pleasant nature! In 2015 Jeffrey

earned his EMT certification and is currently a trainee in the Fire Academy at the Englewood Fire Academy Training Center, where he hopes to attain his certification as a Fire Fighter. In his spare time, Jeffrey enjoys drawing and playing guitar.

EXPERIENCE THE BENEFITS OF STRETCHING

As you age, your muscle tissue actually dries out a little, tightening. This causes a loss of range of motion in your joints and tissues. In addition to the loss of range of motion, it can really limit your active lifestyles and hinder day-to-day, normal motions. Tasks that used to be simple, such as dressing or squatting down to tie your shoes, now become extremely difficult. A regular stretching programhelps lengthen your muscles andmakes daily living activities much easier. Everyone can learn to stretch, regardless of age or flexibility. Stretching should be a part of your daily routine, whether you exercise or not. It does not have to involve a huge amount of time, but stretching can end up giving you huge results! Stretching is a natural part of what we do on a daily basis. You might notice that if you have been sitting in a particular position for a long time, you stretch unconsciously. It feels good! In addition to that good feeling, a consistent stretching programwill produce large gains in flexibility and joint movement. Be kind to your muscles and they will be kind to you!

Exercise Essentials Try this exercise to help your balance...

Helps Improve Balance

SINGLE LEG STANCE - FORWARD Stand on one leg andmaintain your balance. Next, hold your leg out in front of your body. Then return to original position. Maintain a slightly bent knee on the stance side.

Exercises copyright of

www.simpleset.net

The above exercise is designed to be performed under the instruction of a licensed physical therapist.

PATIENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

“They really care about you!” “I absolutely love Agility. I am a college volleyball player that comes home during the summer, and the Core-Fit classes I take help me stay in shape before I go back for season. The atmosphere is amazing and the people that work there are so awesome. Alicia and Anne put a ton of effort into the workouts and give you so much energy while you are there. They really care about you as someone who is trying to get more fit but they are also interested in how you are as a person. It’s like being part of a really big family. I have so much fun working out there and love being pushed by them.” - A.D.

CALL TODAY! 941-484-8107

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

improvemyagility.com

Made with FlippingBook HTML5