Pearls of Empowerment held their tenth Lunch and Learn March 19, 2015, in the multipurpose room at the Davie County Public Library. Forty-seven ladies enjoyed a delicious box lunch as they learned how staying active is the best approach to “Aging Gracefully with our Joints.” Kevin Cleary, physical therapist and co-owner of Aware Physical Therapy, spoke on dealing with osteoarthritis and the importance of balance.
Cleary stated that with aging, humans do lose strength, muscle tone, flexibility, and endurance, but exercising is the best way to slow the degenerative process. To help improve flexibility, strength, endurance, and balance, people need to focus their exercise and continually challenge themselves to improve. Examples of endurance exercises were shared. Walking, biking, working on the elliptical machine, and swimming are good exercises. Circuit training at the gym, exercises with body weight resistance like push-ups and lunges, and light free-weight exercises are good for strength training. To help with the issue of flexibility, he recommended stretching the hamstrings, calf muscles, lower back, neck, and shoulders on a daily basis. Some ways to challenge your balance are making your stance narrower or moving specific body parts while standing. When working on balance, always consider your safety and get supervision for difficult tasks.
