Seniors often have arthritis in their knees. While many may resist the need to exercise, movement increases mobility, strengthens muscles, and boosts flexibility. Doing the exercises below also reduces the likelihood of painful falls because they also build lower body strength.
Hip Marches
Have your senior loved one stand behind a straight chair while holding its top edge. As your loved one exhales, have him or her bend and lift a knee so the leg extends behind him or her, holding the leg in the air as long as possible before placing it back on the floor. Then encourage your loved one to do it with the other leg. While it’s important to start out slow, 10 repetitions are ideal.
If your aging loved one needs help performing exercises, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Senior care professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
Wall Stretches
Encourage your loved one to stand with his or her feet in line with his or her shoulders and his or her back against the wall. Your parent should then lower his or her back against the wall while bending at the knees as far as he or she is comfortable, holding the position for a count of four and then sliding back up the wall. Again, 10 repetitions are ideal for optimal strength building.
Seated Leg Lifts
Even seniors who are unsteady on their feet can do knee exercises. Have your loved one sit with his or her feet flat on the floor in a straight-backed chair, then lift one leg out in front of him or herself slowly. Prompt your loved one to hold it for a count of five and then place it back on the floor without jerking. Repeat with the other leg. Ten repetitions are ideal for this exercise.
Some seniors need assistance with exercising safely, and family caregivers may not always be there to help. For families living in Huntsville, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Partial Squats
Another exercise your parent can do starts with standing behind an upright chair. Your loved one should hold on to the chair with both hands while squatting toward the floor and then return to a standing position slowly to effectively build muscle.
Straight Leg Raises
For this exercise, have your loved one lie on his or her back with the left leg bent at a 50-degree angle, then raise the right leg as high as his or her left knee. Encourage your loved one to hold this position for as long as possible before returning the leg to the floor and repeating the action on the other side.
Living with arthritis can make it difficult to age in place without assistance. Seniors can face a variety of challenges as they age, many of which can be mitigated with the help of professional in-home caregivers who provide high-quality elder care. Huntsville families trust Home Care Assistance to help their elderly loved ones age in place safely and comfortably. Schedule a free in-home consultation by giving us a call today at (256) 716-9940.