Providing mobility to geriatric populations

[perna.longa.albo]

I have a question for anybody who might have an opinion on this matter:

I am interested in volunteering at a nearby residential home for elderly persons. Although I'd be happy to do the traditional volunteer work, I have been interested for a long while now in providing short "classes" on joint mobility. My aim would be to help these people who have been abandoned by society to rediscover general mobility and vitality. I think dynamic joint mobility, and progressing to Ido's joint routines would be incredibly beneficial, but also needs to be done very carefully.

My question is this: is this appropriate? I have taught Capoeira to various populations, but never to elderly persons. Are there things I must take into consideration? Should I complete an education in exercise physiology (I start next Fall, if I am accepted to the doctorate program at University of Miami) before venturing into this?

[Cnye94]

Start very slow and experiment...

[marinheiro]

Oi!

Long time i dont write here, but i hope i can give an opinion 'from the other side'.
I have been recently operated to my hip, a prosthesis implant. Well it's quite common among old people
By the way, i have been reeducated to movement. my physical therapist has been quite illuminating for me, building up my ability to do a lot of things step by step, without pushing beyond the limit one single time, but always staying on the line. And Of course he doesn always work with capoeristas, or 30 years old guys with a prostesis. An unusual case.

With this i want to say that you have to always 'assess' the people you have in front of you, to identify their abilities and their limits. It is one thing that a lot of people working, for example, in capoeira, dont understand, but the more you can understand who you are working with, the more fruitful the time they spend with you will be.
Of course, with old people, you will have to be particularly cautious.

My two cents. Hope it helps.