Balance Exercises for Older Adults

At Strength School, we incorporate a variety of balance drills for our clients of all ages, but especially for our older adults.

Balance is done through the coordination of three main parts of the body: the eyes, the inner ear, and the muscular system.

Thus, bad balance can come from a problem in the visual system, weak muscles, dysfunction in the inner ear, or a problem of integration between those three areas.

To properly maintain and improve balance, you must address the eyes, the vestibular system, and the muscles.

We split our balance exercises at Strength School into static and dynamic drills: static is done in one spot (usually on one leg) and dynamic is done walking.

The simplest static balance drill is standing on one leg. If you cannot do this, you need dedicated balance work immediately.

The simplest dynamic balance drill is heel-to-toe walking, going forward or backward.

To work on the visual system, we will also incorporate visual tracking into static and dynamic balance drills. For example, you can stand on one leg, straighted one arm in front of your chest, and move your arm up and down, or side to side, while keeping your eyes focused on your hand or fingertip.

To work the vestibular system, we will have our clients do that same type of drill, but they will move their heads up and down and side to side while focusing on their fingertips.

You can do all of these drills on different types of surfaces as well, to make things easier or more difficult.