How to WALK to prevent Falls

Thank you this was very helpful

Thank you so much for this valuable video 🙏

Just wish I could walk without looking down find it impossible to walk with my head up as I need an elbow crutch or two both legs now more or less useless if you dont notice even a tiny spot of water on the floor the rubber ferrule skids away when it comes into contact really bad on laminate floooring, even in the mall where the floors are a shiny material I used to find it treacherous.

Recap,wide base,shuffling,not lifting feet high on the ground increase chance of falls in seniors.

I fall frequently. So I learned how to land properly. I also played soccer for over 60 years and fell many many times during games.

Thank you so much for this video. I’m going to start walking with a rolling walker to improve my balance,

I hear the Thai birds in background . I find this interesting top marks

Great 👌

I am almost 83 yrs old and have had several bad falls in the last 5 hrs. It often is related to balance issues..Going to try this walking backwards! I'm now using a walker and cane for safety.

I like your videos because you are to the point and without a lot of unnecessary ums, uhs, and repetition. I can learn from you so Thank You!

How helpful! I’m only 51 but always scared of falling over (am hypermobile & only have vision in one eye which doesn’t help) so thank you for these tips!

Physical exercise should be carried out early morning half an hour after having breakfast. Exercise in the morning empty stomach is harmful to health. It would be like starting the car without petrol in the tank.

Very insightful. So are the comments below. I am 60. Over the last 17 - 18 years I have fallen numerous times. It robbed me of my confidence and made me more sedentary. I am thankful for your videos, sir. 2nd one I have seen tonight. Toe tapping and now these tips on walking. THANK YOU.

If one wants to prevent fall from walking, one must crawl!

Very helpful

Imagine having the natural instinct in your mind to move an arm or leg; but as soon as the instinctual thought takes place; nothing happens; your arm or leg simply will not move (there are the thoughts of moving, yet no actual signal or impulse occurs). This is vaguely what it’s like to be hemiplegic from a stroke; I survived a stroke in March of 2019. I am able to walk with a hemi-walker, but it’s very difficult to maintain balance. So, yes, a stroke can definitely obliterate your sense of balance.

Very smart man.

Great video, my shins and ankles have stiffened. Had lots of twisted ankles as a kid and my knee surgery made my knee stiffer. I will practice all these recommendations! I use hiking walking sticks and they help a lot!

And when plantar fasciitis in both feet causes extreme pain ?

You're describing how one would walk if they didn't *hurt*.

Great information. I just turned 70 and I have fallen several times in the last 10 years. Some of the falls have resulted in broken bones, severe bruises, bruised ribs, and cuts. Broken wrist had to be operated on and a metal plate and screws put in it. Recently, I fell bruising my ribs and nearly broke my arm. I still hurt and the bruises are starting to fade but are still present. I am scared of falling now and I worry every time I have to go very far on foot. From your video I did realize I was not walking on my heels and I was shuffling. I never used to walk like that! So I am going to start practicing better walking habits as you explained. I have to. I’m tired of hurting myself.

Excellent, easy to understand explanation of walking and balance.
Using a walker on a temporary basis to re-establish good balance is really equivalent to using crutches (temporarily) after breaking a leg or having surgery. It would be good if patients could understand that.

Good addition to Mike's various ones for seniors. Thanks. Janet Kleinman

Thank you, Dr. Doug: I try to do my workouts in a pool walking forward, backward, sideways and spin moves (like basketball before 60), or in the morning before coffee-- same way. There is a discipline called the Alexander technique that is very helpful for body mechanics/awareness. Bottom line-- life in all phases is change & you have to be aware of the changes and train to accommodate them.

I've noticed that my arms move naturally as described when my core strength is stronger, and I am doing a lot of walking. When you are overweight, it gets in the way.

Video: "The best exercise to improve your balance."" We must also walk in tandem as though first one and then the other foot walks on a continuous line. Inactivity causes a person's BALANCE to rapidly decline. These premises are those of this author, maker of this video.

I am 86 and have a real tough time walking. The main reason is that I also have drop foot that has caused me to fall 4 times. I now have a walker and a cane but am not satisfied. Have you any suggestions on how to make it easier for me to walk, thank you.

Very very informative.

If you get a chance, please do a video about stairs as well. I am having problems going downstairs and maintaining my balance. Thank you!!!

Thank you for this advice. I have fallen several times, twice hitting my head hard. Your advice is very helpful even though I went to PT that helped a lot you explained why I was told to do something. I always tend to walk watching the ground for fear of tripping over something.

This makes so much sense. Thank you so much.

I'm 55 had both knees replaced because of injuries ,my balance not good .I'll try this while at work drive semi.

Thanks for the great advice. I will be practicing this continuously. Occassionally I find myself just tripping on nothing! I love to walk especially outside, and tend to veer to whatever I'm looking at, so I will stop to sight-see on my walks from now on!

I do not necessarily agree. A cane or walker can cause new unwanted issues if bot used very precisely. I started leaning forward only after using a walker (it was too liw for me I guess, but noone told me about it needing to be set precisely tall for your own height and arm length etc.) and now must work to correct THAT !

Joining a gym for seniors would be a better idea than walking outside with a walker, in my experience. I also walk using my bicycle as my support, which makes me feel "normal" and also gives me the opportunity to sit on the seat not moving when I need to rest.
Then I can let my legs walk the bike as I continue to sit on the seat (instead of peddling, which I am not strong enough to do yet). I also seni-ride my bike by keeping one foot on one foot insert while pushing myself forward gently with the foot of the other leg, which lets me have the joy of rolling forward whenever that leg is lifted. I only do this on flat ground (not on sloped streets) for now, until I am strong enough again to take on even a slight slope.

As explained in the video, it's not the forward movement of the moving leg, that needs correction to stay upright. It's the fact that this leg is no more supporting the body anymore, but only the leg that's still on the ground. So the forward- as well as the lateral- balance will be changed. This balance can be improved/corrected by moving weight in the same direction as the moving leg. Moving the opposite arm forward is the best, if not the only, available possibility to improve the disturbed balance.

Excellent sensible advice Thankyou

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i have a problem with left leg and when I walk my left foot slams down ...right does not, Is that cagsed by not shifting weight properly?

Ne lecture। Physical demonstration please।

Good video

Great video, I have some balance issues due to lightheadedness and do have a 4 wheel walker, to me I find if I use it too much I get dependant on it. So I try to go without it as much as possible. And that gives me confidence that I can do it. Thanks for the video!

Awesome information and instructions!

Avoiding dangerous roads AND sidewalks.avoidong carrying heavy bags

Two things about walkers... many of us are reluctant to get one because of the imagined stigma. Getting the RIGHT walker for you makes all the difference. I had three different-style rollators/walkers before finding one that does the trick - has larger front wheels than back and a one-foot kick-up that lifts the front wheels up onto a kerb... looks good, so I'm not embarrassed to be seen with it... does double duty in the foodstore by taking re-usable shopping bags (no plastic bags any more in Canada!) side by side on the seat and/or hanging from the handles... I could go on! I am 81 with collapsed vertebrae etc., formerly very active and refuse to let anything stop me doing what I want to do. Thank you - will follow these exercises to help keep me on the straight-and-narrow.

Hi , I have watched this video before but I have a question. You mention walking aids,I have started using a pair of walking poles ,what is your opinion of these Thanks. LK from Canada. ❤😊

Thank you very much for your advice and videos too.

I kept falling post having my pancrease removed. I had a cane but my balance was off and I would fall and go to the hospital all the time with broken bones. Then a pt therapist suggested a walker. It has given me such confidence and absolutely no more falls

Great info. Send a copy to President Biden.

Good clear advice