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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
People under a certain age take everyday activities and actions for granted. Jogging, climbing stairs, and even showering are all things that most people don’t actively think about. That is, until they aren’t the simple activities that we once thought them to be. Many of these activities can become increasingly difficult with age. The Needham Council on Aging, recognizing the need for ways to cope with balance and physical exertion, hosted an eight-week course titled Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. This evidence-based program was developed by Boston University and sponsored by the Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
The program was offered for free, however prior registration was required. Held over the course of eight weeks, each session was two-hours. “The research has shown that the people who participate in this do have less of a fear of falling and better balance,” Pearl Pressman said. Pressman works at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and teaches this course all over the area. Each sessions begins with a series of stretches and activities that help improve balance and flexibility. These include calf raises, ankle circles, leg raises, among many others. Pressman demonstrated each motion to the group, doing short reps so that each member knows exactly how to practice the motions at home.
Each session has a different theme. This past week’s was targeting reasons for falling, including low blood pressure. Pressman read to them from a packet put together by Boston University. “People who are inactive might experience dizziness when they change position. Sometimes the heart is unable to get blood to the brain as quickly as needed,” she said. She then went over how to check if this is a problem. “As a precautionary measure we should get into the habit of sitting or standing still for one or two minutes before changing positions, getting up or walking to allow blood to get to the brain. This is especially important when getting out of bed.” The information covers a number of techniques to use to avoid dizziness or falling.
This program is offered in the area throughout the year, and many of the resources can be found online as well. Proven to be incredibly effective, the exercises are also relatively straightforward, allowing for participants to gain the full benefits of the practices.
