The aging population is at higher risk for balance control and falling. This often leads to difficulty in the simplest daily movements and can be a constant worry for seniors and others who have physical challenges. Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and serious health problems in Ireland in the over 65’s.
Improving your walking skills and balance are closely connected—enhancing one naturally benefits the other.
At MaxPhysio and Pilates our trained therapists can help you to learn and master these skills to reduce your risk of injury, while at the same time increasing your confidence and independence.
Gait and balance training has a range of benefits, with avoiding injuries being at the top of the list. Beyond lessening your chances of falling or feeling dizzy, you’re also more likely to feel confident with your footing. Plus, the more you move, the more likely those aches and pains will ease—helping you feel and function at your best.
First, we’ll evaluate your walking to determine potential problems with strength and posture. We will also test your balance using simple movements to provide a baseline of your current abilities so we know what to focus on in terms of therapy. Hip and ankle weakness can often lead to balance problems, as does poor trunk strength. Increasing strength and flexibility can help counteract these problems. This can be as simple as a chair based exercise program for an individual starting out with reduced strength and balance to a standing balance program involving weights.
That’s why we provide a range of programs and therapies to evaluate and treat balance disorders:
