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Simple
Exercise Can Bring Seniors Back in Balance
A simple, inexpensive exercise program can help seniors
achieve significant strength and balance improvements in
just a few weeks and help protect them from falls.
These results come from a University of Arkansas-sponsored
pilot outreach project.
The Project Urging Senior Health (PUSH) project was designed
to demonstrate the ease of starting and maintaining senior
exercise programs in the community. In a trial run, researchers
implemented simple fitness programs at two senior centers
in Arkansas.
The results were so impressive, the researchers suggest
that similar programs across the country could greatly reduce
the number of seniors who suffer falls and fall-related
fractures.
The exercise program consisted of three 40-minute sessions
per week. The seniors did stretching and strengthening exercises
using therabands and exercise balls. At the end of 10 weeks,
the 19 seniors being studied had statistically significant
improvements in balance, strength and dynamic balance.
The researchers also found the exercise program improved
the seniors' mental health and their levels of HDL ("good")
cholesterol.
Their findings were presented at a recent meeting of the
Association for Gerontology.
Falls present a serious health risk to seniors. One of three
seniors who break a hip dies as a result of complications
from the fracture.
Here's where you can learn more about exercise
for seniors.
Article Source: HealthDay
Article Author: N/A
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