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Exercise for older adults is so important since it helps with balance and everyday tasks like walking. Exercise bands can be hupful for strengthening leg muscles.

One of the greatest injury risks for older adults is loss of balance and falling. The older woman that I'm working with, Terry, is at risk of falling and has been injured in the past by this unfortunate occurance. Here is an article from Web Md which explains the importance of building strength to avoid falls.With Exercise, Older Adults Can Improve Balance, Reduce Risk of Falls And Fewer Falls Mean Lower Health Care CostsBy Gay Frankenfield, RN
WebMD Medical NewsMarch 2, 2000 (Atlanta) -- Several studies have demonstrated that regular exercise reduces falls in older adults, according to a report in a recent issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Doctors say that muscle strength training improves balance and reduces the risk of many chronic diseases.Because falls are common in older adults and muscle weakness is a known risk factor, researchers in New Zealand explored the preventive role of exercise. After a comprehensive literature search, 11 studies were identified and reviewed. Five of these studies showed that exercise significantly reduced both the rate and risk of falls, and successful interventions included strength, balance, and endurance training. According to the principal investigator, variations between the studies helps explain contradictory findings. "The variety of exercise interventions also allows us to draw some conclusions," says Melinda Gardner, a PhD candidate and research fellow at the University of Otago School of Medicine in Dunedin, New Zealand. "The data show that appropriate exercise reduces both the number and risk of falls in older adults. But exercise must be regular and sustained in order to be effective."The study showed that older people can safely perform exercise programs, but these programs must be regular and sustainable in order to be effective. Also, people who stick to exercise programs have a reduced need for health care services. Unfortunately, the study review did not show any evidence that the fall injuries that do occur in people who have a regular exercise routine are less serious than those injuries sustained by people who don't exercise.Gardner tells WebMD that exercise must also be intense enough to improve muscle strength. "We often underestimate the ability of older adults to manage weights. But strength training is a critical component of balance retraining," says Gardner. Researchers say that a decrease in falls may also lead to lower health care costs. "Lowering fall-related injuries will reduce health care costs," says Gardner. "But there's very little information on the cost of implementing exercise programs. So in addition to cost, we need to learn more about the type and frequency of exercise required to decrease falls in subgroups of older adults."

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