Keep your feet strong to help prevent falls
By Richard Adefioye, AARP | Published September 25, 2023
NOTE from Heritage Health Services: Only the first three foot exercises are shown below. For the rest, please follow the link below for the full AARP article. If the link doesn’t work, you should be able to find the article by doing an internet search.
https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2023/foot-balance-exercises.html
Feet are often underappreciated. We don’t think much about them until they hurt or give us problems. But they are of course crucial to getting us around and keeping us balanced.
“Your feet carry your body through life. They are often neglected because they are mostly packed away in socks and shoes,” said Melissa Burgard, a certified yoga teacher at Yoga Racoon in Germany, who specializes in teaching adults above 50. “But taking proper care of your feet will bring very many benefits.”
A weak foot reduces your stability and balance, which increases your chances of falling. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury and injury deaths among adults age 65 and older, and more than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
“Foot mobility is especially important for older adults to help preserve a full range of motion in the feet,” said Samantha Deutchman, a certified personal trainer at Shop Yoga Strong. “Since the feet are anchors for our entire body … having adequate foot mobility is key to maintaining full-body health.”
Why feet become weaker
There are many reasons why foot mobility naturally declines in older adults. For instance, as you get older, the tissues in your feet become stiffer, which results in a decreased range of motion.
Also, joint mobility often lessens with age, which affects the amount of force that propels you forward as you walk. Unfortunately, these developments can result in foot pain and reduce your overall foot strength, which increases your chances of falling.
But here’s the good news – with the right exercises, you can improve your foot mobility, balance and coordination, which reduces your risk of falling.
Below, Deutchman and Burgard describe 10 super-efficient foot mobility exercises. So grab a chair or mat and boost your balance and foot strength with these moves.
Try these 10 foot mobility exercises
ERIN PATRICE-O’BRIEN
Feet are often underappreciated. We don’t think much about them until they hurt or give us problems. But they are of course crucial to getting us around and keeping us balanced.
“Your feet carry your body through life. They are often neglected because they are mostly packed away in socks and shoes,” said Melissa Burgard, a certified yoga teacher at Yoga Racoon in Germany, who specializes in teaching adults above 50. “But taking proper care of your feet will bring very many benefits.”
A weak foot reduces your stability and balance, which increases your chances of falling. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury and injury deaths among adults age 65 and older, and more than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
“Foot mobility is especially important for older adults to help preserve a full range of motion in the feet,” said Samantha Deutchman, a certified personal trainer at Shop Yoga Strong. “Since the feet are anchors for our entire body … having adequate foot mobility is key to maintaining full-body health.”
Why feet become weaker
There are many reasons why foot mobility naturally declines in older adults. For instance, as you get older, the tissues in your feet become stiffer, which results in a decreased range of motion.
Also, joint mobility often lessens with age, which affects the amount of force that propels you forward as you walk. Unfortunately, these developments can result in foot pain and reduce your overall foot strength, which increases your chances of falling.
But here’s the good news – with the right exercises, you can improve your foot mobility, balance and coordination, which reduces your risk of falling.
Below, Deutchman and Burgard describe 10 super-efficient foot mobility exercises. So grab a chair or mat and boost your balance and foot strength with these moves.
Try these 10 foot mobility exercises
ERIN PATRICE-O’BRIEN
1. Ankle circles
Ankle circles are a great way of improving your ankle mobility. Here’s how to do them:
Step 1: While sitting, perform slow and controlled ankle circles in the clockwise direction.
Step 2: Repeat the move on the same feet in the counterclockwise direction.
Step 3: Perform the move five times in each direction.
2. Toe pulls
Toe pulls are an excellent way of building foot control and stabilizing your pace when walking. Here’s how to do them:
Step 1: Standing or sitting, try lifting only your big toe off the ground while keeping your other four toes on the ground.
Step 2: Now try repeating the move with each of your other toes.
Step 3: Aim to lift each toe five times.
3. Calf raises
Calf raises primarily strengthen your calf muscles (on the back of your lower leg), which support your weight and activity. Here’s how to do them:
Step 1: Stand near a wall for support.
Step 2: Lift your heels off the ground and stand on your toes to engage your calf muscles. Start with both feet on the ground. As you get stronger, try keeping only one foot on the ground at a time.
Step 3: Return to starting position.
Step 4: Aim for 10 repetitions on each leg.
Categories: Health Concerns, Safety in the Home
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