During a recent round of physical therapy sessions, I was pleased to learn that one of the exercise sets involved walking backward.
It reminded me of a delightful time back when my Mama, who is currently suffering from the last stages of dementia, could still remember how to walk. Mama loved to go swimming. She loved to be in the water. At the time, we had a membership at a wellness center that included an indoor pool. The majority of my time in the pool was spent walking backward while facing Mama so she would walk frontwards as we ambled back and forth in the water. At the time, one of the attendants mentioned that walking backward was good for the brain – it helps with memory.
Well, that was encouraging. But that was then and life moved on. Mama forgot how to walk and we stopped going to the pool.
So there I was on the treadmill set for reverse and the wonderful memory of Mama and I walking back and forth in the pool came back to me. I remembered the statement someone had said about walking backward being good for memory and wondered if it was really true.
In a previous post, “Keep Smelln’ Them Flowers” I wrote about the benefits of brain function regarding the olfactory system with the sense of smell.
Taking a step backward
I wondered if that could apply to other senses as well. I did a bit of research on Google, and it turns out that the internet has a lot to say on the subject. I learned that walking backward falls into a category of actions called ‘neurobic exercises’.
According to SheKnows.com Neurobics is the science of brain exercise.
Neurobic exercises, in a nutshell, are: Doing the ordinary things in new, surprising and unexpected ways. Break routines. For example, turn your calendar upside down. Find a safe place to walk backward.
A website called Physiotherapy-treatment.com provides several Neurobic exercises to try. Don’t make too many changes at once, attempt things and find out what works for you. Develop a mindset that asks, “How can I do this differently?”
Since neurobic exercises can help make a person’s brain more responsive to mental challenges, they could actually enhance the quality of life for both caregiver and those being cared for.
So, now that I think about it, perhaps Mama should have been the one walking backward in the pool.
In future posts, we will be sharing additional ideas for neurobic exercises. Stay tuned!
Has your world been touched by dementia?
My book, “Finishing Well: Finding the Joy in Dementia“, is a collection of stories and tips about doing life with my Mama. May it encourage and inspire you to find joy on your own, unique journey.
5 thoughts on “Upside Down and Backward”