3 Easy Exercises to Strengthen your Hips and Improve Your Balance in Standing and Walking, Natalie Woodman

Today's newsletter is all about gaining strength around your hips and pelvis to improve your balance during walking especially now for autumn and winter when it is darker and more slippery out there.

I will be focussing on how you can improve your balance in standing and walking with these 3 strengthening exercises for your hips

Each exercise will be broken down into the action steps. Aim to complete 2-3 sets of each exercise with 10-15 repetitions in each set. Focus on your breathing during these exercises.

Please ask for support from your family member, partner, carer or friend if you need help. Better yet, do them with a friend, family member or partner.

1. Bridging

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor

Push down through your feet and raise your hips up

Make sure you are pushing equally through both feet

Make sure that your hips are level in the air when you look down at your hips

Hold each rep for 3-5 seconds before lowering and repeating

Relax

Repeat and complete your set

Rest between sets

Complete 2-3 sets

2. Lateral walking

Walk sideways leading with your weaker leg

Step out sideways with eg. your left leg

Shift the weight fully onto your left leg and slowly step in with your right leg

This is a great exercise for building your confidence with taking all your body weight through your left side. Ask for support from a friend, carer or family member with this exercise if you need it.

Walk the length of the room at least 4 times.