In personal training and fitness, falls and other immobility issues among the elderly are directly related to their loss of coordination. The popular adage, “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” holds true here. It has been found that as people age, they lose interest in basic physical fitness. This leads to the little use of common muscles used for coordination. It is coordination that allows any human being to trigger the left-right movement of both arms and legs. Without this coordination, it is impossible for the human brain to decipher what body part is moving and when. Below are some ways of building and maintaining bodily coordination for the preservation of movement as one ages.
Hand Eye Coordination
Hand-to-eye coordination drills can be as simple as holding both arms out as if making the wings of a plane. By rotating one arm in a specified direction whilst the other arm in another, the body is forced to manage the action taken. This simple action will help to maintain the brain’s sense of coordination. It is also easy to do. All that is truly required is time set aside to complete this task.
Lower Body Coordination
Lower body coordination for the elderly can be achieved by taking consistent walks. Remember, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Regardless, for the best way to exercise lower body coordination, try walking laterally without crossing either foot. When done in one direction, stop and go to the other while repeating as needed. Keeping your attention on this will help build a need and sense of lower body coordination. Be sure to inquire Corner Medical LLC for home medical supplies that will help you complete these exercises if you are in the Minnesota region.
Inner Core Coordination
Scientists have concluded that the inner core muscles contract a half to one full second before any bodily movement. Core muscles are essential to stabilizing the body parts so other parts can freely move. Thankfully, this coordination muscle can be strengthened in bed. Lying on one’s back and lifting the heels of both feet four to six inches from the bed will help rejuvenate the stabilization required for all bodily movements.
Diet for Better Coordination
B vitamins are recommended for health of the nervous system as they help to synthesize neurotransmitters. Because it is the nervous system that stimulates body activity, the general health of the nervous system is essential to good coordination and brain comprehension when it comes to movement.
Diet for Better and Stronger Muscles
This is an easy one. Tissue construction that a person has within muscles will dictate the potential output of those cells. In both understanding and receiving stimulation from the brain, healthy muscle tissue will produce better results. Eating salmon will not only help with brain function thanks to omega 3s, but it will provide the adequate protein to build quality muscles. We all know about protein shakes, but do yourself a favor and get more complicated compounds in body through meats like salmon.
Above all else, remember, “If you don’t use, you lose it”. Keeping active in life will be the primary factor that sustains over all freedom of movement. It is essential to a full life and being mobile as the body ages.