Physical Therapist in Harlem NY Shares Insights on Effective Balance Training for Unmatched Fall Prevention Results
Many people don't realize how little balance they have until they suffer a serious injury from a fall. Losing one's balance once is all it takes to experience a life-altering injury.
Park North Physical Therapy in Harlem, NY offers effective balance training for fall prevention. Learn the benefits of this type of training and what exercises are necessary to strengthen one's balance.
Benefits of Balance Training for Fall Prevention
Balance training, a form of physical therapy in Harlem, NY, strengthens the muscles, like the leg muscles and core, that help people stay upright. This type of physical therapy offers several benefits beyond improving balance:
- Improve joint support: Strengthening the muscles involved in balance takes stress off of joints, relieving pain and preventing injuries.
- Enhance posture: Balance and posture go hand in hand. By strengthening the legs and core, patients naturally improve the areas of the body that contribute to posture.
- Improve body awareness: Enhancing balance has a natural consequence of helping people become more aware of their bodies, which can help with hand-eye coordination and reflexes.
What Exercises Can Strengthen Balance?
Physical therapists in Harlem, NY often guide patients through the following exercises to improve balance and build core strength:
Sit-to-Stand Exercises
Being able to transition from a seated to a standing position without the use of one's hands is an excellent starting point in balance training. This motion requires core strength, as people rely on the core to pull themselves upwards without swaying to one side.
In sit-to-stand exercises, patients practice transitioning from sitting in a chair to standing while keeping their hands clasped in front of them.
Standing Heel Raises
Heel raises help to strengthen another area of the body vital to balance: the feet muscles. Completing repetitions of raising and lowering one's heels while standing can strengthen the toes and ball of the foot.
When individuals lose their balance, they often shift onto their toes in an attempt to steady themselves. Having ample toe, foot and ankle strength can help prevent falls when loss of balance occurs.
Tree Pose
Tree pose is a yoga pose in which individuals stand with one foot positioned against the inside of the other leg. Practicing tree pose each day helps build strength and balance in each leg. With time, patients can learn to close their eyes while in tree pose without losing their balance.
Contact Park North Physical Therapy in Harlem, NY for Balance Training for Fall Prevention
Park North Physical Therapy offers balance training services alongside a range of other physical therapy treatments in Harlem, NY. To learn more about improving your strength with balance exercises, contact the clinic today at 212-222-6525.
