Customer Reviews

Stronger Seniors® Chair Exercise Program- 2 disc Chair Exercise Program- Stretching, Aerobics, Strength Training, and Balance. Improve flexibility, muscle and bone strength, circulation, heart health, and stability. Developed by Anne Pringle Burnell

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3 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

After my father's passing last year, I moved my 85 year-old mother in with me. She's active for her age, but recently started having trouble with balance, getting out of her recliner, and out of the tub. I did a search on Amazon for chair exercises and came across this set. I ordered it a couple of months ago and it has made a tremendous difference in Mom 's mobility and comfort.

The set comes with two DVDs; one has a stretching routine and the other has strength and balance exercises. Each routine is about 45 minutes long and are mostly done in a sturdy kitchen chair. Although I got these for Mom's benefit, my partner and I (both in late 50's) have taken to doing the exercises with Mom. We alternate the two DVD's 5-6 days a week and we've all three noted that we feel much better. I've bought other exercise DVDs, but they tend to have young contortionists leading the program. The routines are usually too hard and we end up hurting something and quitting. With this set I feel like I get about 70 percent of the benefit of a more intense stretching and arm strength workout with about 5 percent of the pain and injury. For example, for the weightlifing section, Mom uses 3 pound weights and I use 5 pound weights. We've both seen significant improvements in arm and shoulder flexibility and strength. The most important gain has been in Mom's balance and stability. She can now get out of her recliner easily, and she's much less tottery when she walks.

I've been so impressed with the gains we've all made that I've ordered the set for my older sister and the mothers of several close friends. I've also shown the set to my physician and Mom's physician. They're both going to recommend to other patients. Given the high prevalence and serious consequences of falls in the elderly, I urge you to invest in this for any elderly loved one. My partner and I do other weekly excersises (walking, kayaking, Wii Fit, biking), but still find a lot of benefit in the exercises on these DVDs. My Mom likes the fact that the folks doing the exercises on the video are more like her than in most videos.

The only issue you might have is helping an elderly person set up the DVD player and change the discs every day. Mom couldn't get the hang of the TiVo and DVD remotes, so it's good that she has me here. Also, you might watch your senior the first time or two to make sure they are doing the exercises correctly so as to not strain anything. Mom took a little coaching on some of the forms. Now she's a pro.

I ordered two other DVDs in the Stronger Seniors series (Yoga and Pilates). Neither of those worked as well for us. The yoga was too hard for Mom and we didn't like the second instructor as well as the original instructor. The Pilates DVD uses stretch bands, but the exercises seem less intense and helpful. Surprisingly, Mom didn't like it as well because the workout is a few minutes shorter.

Sorry for the long review, but I can't over emphasize how pleased our family is with these DVDs. I urge you to get this for your own health or for any senior you care about. FYI, I had never heard of Anne Pringle Burnell before I found these DVDs in an Amazon search. Now she's a hero at our house.

My Mom is a 73 year-old, bound to a wheelchair, not able to do most of the things she loved to do. Her doctor suggested exercise. I decided to purchase an at-home video. I first bought one with a lady who did the exercises on a beach, which seemed ridiculous. Plus she couldn't stand looking at the bleached hair and the fake smile on her face. She then tried one where a woman waved paper plates around. It was OK, but the horrible computer-generated music drove her crazy.

I decided to do some research for the next video I would get so she would actually do the exercises on a regular basis. I came across Anne Burnell. She is not only a Certified Personal Trainer, but she is certified to train other trainers in many disciplines of exercise, including Senior Exercise. She teaches at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the University of Illinois in Chicago. The program is recommended by some very prominent health professionals.

I then went to the Stronger Seniors website and was able to watch clips of her senior exercise DVDs. They are GREAT! They are done in a group setting with other seniors, to music that is both relaxing and motivating. Anne explains each exercise, the proper body position, and why it is important to do.

My Mom does them every day, often with a friend and sometimes by herself. Since starting the program, I have returned her wheelchair to the hospital store and she only uses her walker when taking long walks. She is gardening again and feeling wonderful. Our family and her doctor are thrilled.

I have since bought Anne's other chair exercise DVDs, the Pilates one and the Yoga. Both are terrific, and Mom thinks the yoga is so new and an absolutely wonderful experience every time she use it. I do the Yoga one with her!

I purchased the two-disk Stretch and Strength set. Iam a 71 year old woman who has osteoarthritis.I am ambulatory, but unable to walk for exercise or do strong aerobics. I have used the Stretch disk once and found the exercises to be comfortable and invigorating for the most part. Most of the stretches were doable for me except for one where you put you leg out to the side. I had to adjust the leg position on that one.

However, I thought 44 minutes of nothing but stretches was too long. There is no logical break in the routine so you have to finish it at one sitting. In addition, the exercises were performed very very slowly, which is good for some, but I found it boring after a while. I kept watching the display to see how much time was left - thought it would never end.

Variety is what I am looking for - 5 minutes of stretching combine with strength and mild aerobics and cool down for a total of 30-35 minutes for one disk would be perfect for me. I don't have time to spend longer at one stretch (no pun intended).

I haven't used the strength yet, but I'm guessing I'll have the same problem with it since it is 51 minutes long.

I sometimes think people have forgotten about senior citizens needing to get some exercise. Since it is difficult for me to walk for very long at a time and not wanting to lose what mobility I have...this is a blessing....PLEASE remember to not overdo but to do what you can...in moderation in any exercise. God bless you all.

THIS would be a good gift for your parents...and it would encourage them if you encouraged them to try to keep flexible. We all want to stay out of nursing homes and most of us don't want to be a burden on our children, so this a great gift to give someone you love.

This is a good DVD for people who have not exercised in years and/or for people who are VERY stiff. Gets old very fast and I used it for only about 4 weeks -- then moved on to another senior exercise DVD. Purchase this only if you plan on doing the basics over and over and over.....

As an experienced fitness professional, I bought this video to get some ideas for working with seniors who are in need of strength and balance assistance. I have to say, Anne did a terrific job. The workouts/routines are uncomplicated yet interesting, basic but still challenging (from what I could tell), and they should be safe for this population. I particularly liked the strength progression; the transition from body resistance to the use of weights was smooth and the increase in intensity seemed appropriately challenging. The camera work was also done well-zooming in to the lower body and feet when a step could be a bit complicated. I'd definitely recommend this DVD to other fitness professionals and especially to seniors.

This program is absolutely fantastic. I have met Anne Burnell personally at one of her classes, and she is as real in the DVDs as she is in person. She helps so many older adults and takes a real interest in their well-being.

These chair exercises are performed in a perfect pace, with music that is great- you do not grow tired of it after playing several times. The Stronger Seniors exercise programs provide so much variety, I never get bored. I feel better, look better, think better and feel much happier.

I have since bought the Pilates and Yoga DVDs and they are both excellent.
I am so glad I found these!

I really don't like to exercise, but feel it is necessary. Because I have arthritus in my knees, even walking is painful. I know that if you don't use it, you lose it. So it is important to try to do some exercising. This video helps. You do most of the exercises from a chair, so it is easy on the knees.

I am a 35-year old French woman and I have had a lot of trouble with my lower back and scoliosis so I just can't stand for very long and go through the usual fitness workout. I found out about Ann's DVDs on YouTube and I was stunned! We don't have that kind of videos in France! And I found this one so wonderful I gave it a try. It IS fantastic !! It is a real workout, it gets you exercising and you don't get hurt or bored. It is fun. The music is engaging. I guess some will find it ridiculous that a woman my age would exercise with these DVDs but I don't care. I recommand this programm to anyone who lack stamina and self-confidence because of mobility issues.

I did these with my mother who is developing dementia, and she managed the exercises on the stretching disc, but the strength disc was too complicated and fast for her to keep up with. It's too bad, because she could really benefit from the movements.