When we talk about home security, your mind most likely goes to monitored alarm systems, motion-sensor lights or exterior cameras. But the home security I want to talk to you about is much more personal than that. It’s the kind of security that comes with performing your normal daily activities without feeling at risk of falling or tripping.
Did you know that the majority of at home injuries are from tripping or falling due to a lack of strength, flexibility, balance, or a combination of these?
In order to avoid injuries, we must maintain optimal conditioning, and to do so, we need to focus on all three areas, though in my experience, I find the most important of the three to be flexibility and balance.
I’m not talking about being able to bend forward so tightly that your body resembles a narrow tube-like shape, or being able to bend over backwards far enough that your hands can touch the floor. Nor am I talking about being able to stand on one foot while wrapping your other leg behind your head… nice to be that stable and flexible, but most of us would rather watch a professional perform this than do it ourselves!
I’m talking about functional movements that allow us to move freely while performing our daily activities. Though unfortunately, the truth is that many of us are practicing only a small portion of what our bodies require of us. By lifting weights at the gym, riding our bikes, or swimming for example, we are training our muscles, joints, and connective tissues to perform very specific activities. That would of course be okay if these were the only types of movements required by our bodies. But what if we need to move, bend, or balance in a way that we haven’t been training to do – such as standing up from a seated position without using our hands for support or getting up from the floor without calling for someone to assist us?
Even a simple everyday task such as walking – such as up the stairs or around the block – can be challenging for those of us who don’t practice strength, flexibility, and balance regularly. Yes it does take practice, but as the old saying goes, “If you don’t use it, you lose it!”
So what should you be doing to maintain these vital functions or improve upon them?
I have been advising my patients for decades on this issue. To read some of my suggestions, take a look through some of my other blogs here on chiroharvey.com, such as: https://chiroharvey.com/chiropractic-care/4-lifestyle-changes-relieve-back-pain/ or https://chiroharvey.com/back-pain/modified-squat/.