These words greeted me a month or so ago as I entered the Senior Center lobby. DeAnne Hanvey was the volunteer receptionist and went on to say that taking the balance class and practicing the fall prevention tips I taught kept her from falling on a hardwood floor when she tripped on a step.
Indeed, being able to take a "step" to catch yourself is key. Researchers at OSU's Biomechanics Lab have determined that "people can learn to respond to a loss of balance by taking a step, thus preventing a fall." (Terra, Winter 2015, p 37) As we age, our balance recovery reflexes work less well, possibly because in our largely flat environment, we don't use them as often. But, thanks to neuroplasticity, our brain and nervous system are amenable to learning via attentive practice.
That's one of the things we'll work on in all the upcoming classes: developing a fluid step-strategy. In the meantime, check out the short, 3-minute, audio practice, Stepping Around the Clock. Click on the image and find an open area to work on your balance. I know I've shred this before but we need to keep practicing to ensure that, like DeAnne, the skills are there when we need them.
