Why One-Leg Stands Are Wasting Your Parent’s Time

References

Standing on one leg isn't the balance solution for seniors. Quick head turns, steps back, walking in dim light—these are the real-world challenges. Train those for practical, effective balance after 75.

Check out: optimovedfw.com/courses/balance

#BalanceTraining #SeniorFitness #FallPrevention #Mobility #AgingWell

Video Transcript

This might be controversial.I often talk about how older people staying on one leg does not help balance.And I can go into all the specific neurological reasons, the mechanisms, explanations about our balance system as to why this is the case, but here's a more practical way of looking at it.Ask yourself, how often do people over 75 need to stay on one leg for more than 10 seconds?Versus, how often do people over 75 need to move their head to look at the environment, to turn their head quickly when someone calls their name, to s- take a few steps backward if something pops out in front of them, or to be able to walk around in an environment that's not well lit?All these other things, other than balancing on one leg, have far more practical and far-reaching implications regarding our balance in everyday life.And such things as large, fast head movements, walking backwards, walking fast while talking at the same time, all these things are far more potent ways of training balance for people over the age of 75 years old.If the focus is always staying on one leg for longer, then we are missing out on training all these other important and far more effective areas of training our balance for everyday life, especially for people over 75.This is why I talk about how focusing too much time on staying on one leg for balance actually makes you older, because you are missing out on the opportunity to get younger by focusing on better training methods for your balance system.To start training your balance today, go to optimovedfw.com/courses/balance or hit the link in the description below, and that will take you right to training modules with videos that will help you get started today to train your balance.

Daniel Gonzalez

Operations Manager

Daniel serves as the Operations Manager, where he plays a hands-on role in every aspect of the business. From streamlining processes and guiding teams to supporting marketing, sales, client relations, and content creation, he ensures that daily operations run smoothly while driving long-term growth. His ability to connect the moving parts of the company allows both clients and colleagues to experience consistency, clarity, and results.
Known for his approachable leadership style, Daniel values building strong relationships and fostering collaboration across departments. He brings a balance of structure and adaptability to the team, always looking for ways to improve efficiency while keeping people at the center. Outside of work, Daniel enjoys spending quality time with family and friends and is passionate about exploring new experiences that spark creativity and growth. He also values staying active and engaged in his community, carrying the same commitment and integrity into his personal life as he does in his professional role.

Kayleigh Burns

Physical Therapist

Kayleigh has had a passion for understanding movement and the intricacies of the human body from a young age. She had several loved ones growing up that required Physical Therapy, that sparked her interest in becoming a Physical Therapist and making an impact in other's lives at such a critical and vulnerable time.
Kayleigh Graduated from California Baptist University with her Bachelors in Pre Physical Therapy in 2014 and received the Deans award for Leadership and Academics. She then went on to Western University of Health Sciences and received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2017 where she was awarded the Phoenix award for overcoming diversity. Since graduating she has focused on the Geriatric population dedicating the last 7 years to Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation bringing diversity and quality care to an often forgotten population. She has implemented programs that focus on Dementia rehabilitation and adaptation, wound care and emphasized neurological point of view with varying diagnosis. She has also led Rehab teams varying in size from 7-25 people. Regardless of her position, her calling has been the same, to inspiring individuals to keep living life to the fullest, to not accept age as a barrier and to provide perspectives and opportunities to overcome limitations. 
When Kayleigh is not immersed in the world of Physical Therapy, she is prioritizing her family whether it's spending time on their land with her two small kids and husband or traveling around the World. Make every day an adventure and seek new heights each day!

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At Optimove Physical Therapy & Wellness it is important for the decision-making power about our clients’ plan of care and treatment to be between the client and the therapist. Optimove allows you to experience what medicine used to be, so you and the healthcare provider determine your plan together. Decisions about your plan are made by you in collaboration with your licensed therapist. Once the evaluation is completed, you and the physical therapist will decide together on how long the treatment should last, how often, and what the end-result will look like. We never give up on you and we are always there for you. We are relentless in the pursuit of you achieving the outcome you want.

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In the State of Texas, a physical therapy evaluation and the beginning of treatment can be performed without a referral. After that, we will send our evaluation to the healthcare provider of your choice and we will take it from there. All you need to do is provide the contact information for that healthcare provider, and we will do the rest. This other healthcare provider can be a physician, chiropractor, dentist, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.

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Matt Langford

Physical Therapist

Hi there! I'm Dr. Matt Langford. I have been working as a physical therapist in DFW for three years. My wife, our golden doodle named Birdie, and I love to spend our time going on different adventures whether it be hiking the Trinity trail or traveling to new places. I also love playing golf, pickleball, and serving at our local church in Fort Worth. My goals in life include learning more about the field of physical therapy so I can provide better care to individuals, pursuing my faith in a way that helps others know about Christ, and making as many memories as I can.

Kasondra Woodruff

Client Liaison

Kasondra is a mother and a pet lover, she loves spending time outdoors with her children and furry friends. With years of experience in client relations, her passion is ensuring that every client is heard and taken care of. As our Client Liaison, Kasondra takes pride in building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring that their needs are met and that they feel comfortable and confident throughout their time with us.

Jason Livas

Physical Therapy

Jason joined the Optimove team November 2023. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2012 followed by an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy from Navarro College in 2019.
Jason’s clinical interests include neuromuscular training for healthy aging and longevity of the older adult, orthopedic rehabilitation and strength and conditioning. Jason also maintains certifications as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and trigger point dry needling (Cert DN).
Outside of work, Jason enjoys cooking, reading, strength training and spending time with his beautiful wife and kids.

Connie Thomason

Occupational Therapist

Connie holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University (1997) and boasts over 26 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. Her expertise lies primarily in neurological rehabilitation within a hospital-based outpatient setting. Throughout her career, Connie has worked across various healthcare settings including Acute, SubAcute, Skilled Nursing, and In-Patient Rehab.
Her specialization in Vestibular Rehabilitation since 2005 has equipped her to effectively treat a wide array of conditions, including BPPV, Vestibular Migraine, Meniere’s Disease, acute and chronic hypofunction, Acoustic Neuroma, PPPD, balance disorders, central vestibular disorders, concussion, and Superior Canal Dehiscence.
Connie holds numerous certifications, including the 360 Neuro Health Certificate of Competency in Vestibular Rehab, Emory University Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency-Based Course, 360 Neuro Health V2FIT for concussion, Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT) BIG for Parkinson’s patients, Neuro Developmental Treatment (NDT) for stroke patients, and NASM Corrective Exercise certification. She is also certified in the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Active in professional communities, Connie is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and the Vestibular Disorders Association.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Connie enjoys spending time with her husband of 30 years, along with their two rescued bulldogs. Her hobbies include riding motorcycles, traveling, running, painting, and reading extensively about health, wellness, and vestibular research.

Andy Altmoyer

Operations Manager

Andy grew up as part of a military family, living all over the country and abroad. He is so glad to have finally landed back in Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education, minoring in Vocal Music and Theater from West Liberty University in West Virginia. Since then he has used his outgoing nature, education background, and organizational skills in healthcare management and operations. When he isn’t working he enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading Marvel comics, and cooking.
During Andy’s first venture into healthcare, while living in Ohio, he worked for a practice focused on Orthopedics where he spent time managing their Physical Therapy front desk across multiple locations as well as being a group fitness instructor for seniors, folks with special needs, and those who have had total join replacements. It’s here that he realized his deep love of helping people navigate the healthcare system and connecting them with those can meet their mobility needs.
Sad to leave that company after over 7 years, Andy and his family moved to Dallas where Andy spent 3 years as Operations Manager for a large Neurology practice. He continued helping people connect with top tier healthcare providers, navigating the pandemic, and moving the practice’s location in stride. It was during this time that Andy met Dr. Guild. The Optimove Team became a favored referral source for some of the physicians on staff and Andy got to work with their team closely as they coordinated care for the patients.
This collaboration led to Andy joining the Optimove Team in August of 2021. Andy has a unique blend of experiences not only professionally but personally as well. He has been able to assist so many people reach the correct providers to have their needs met and provides valuable insight to the workings of the healthcare system at large and how to make it work better for our clients. This also comes from helping his mother navigate worker’s compensation and disability as well as assisting his family setting up his grandparents with memory care, assisted living, physical therapy, and other services. Andy has often been quoted as saying, “I may not be the one laying the healing hands but connecting folks to the right people who can help them makes me feel like I’m a part of something great and makes me feel good.”
Andy would like to be a part of your journey towards independence and wellness. He loves getting to know our clients and being one of their biggest cheerleaders throughout their journeys. Give him a call and take the first steps to achieving your goals.

Peter Langlois

Physical Therapy

Peter keeps our clients laughing, and the whole Optimove Team as well. Hand-picked by Jeffrey from their previous rehabilitation work, when he is not being “The Joint Whisperer” and making the seemingly impossible happen, Peter is MacGyvering up some gadget for our clients to help them move better.
Peter is originally from Rhode Island. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island where his first career was as a ship captain, where he travelled the world and experienced many different cultures. Peter later developed a passion for physical therapy from his running career as a long distance runner doing marathons and ultramarathons. This led him to switch careers as he wanted to learn more about injury prevention and rehab. Peter has worked in various facilities over the last 8 years as a therapist throughout the metroplex including skilled nursing, outpatient orthopedics, and home health. He now enjoys working with our clients on various movement disorders, gait mechanics and balance issues. In his spare time Peter enjoys chopping wood and going for long trail runs with his family.

Jeffrey R. Guild, PT, DPT, (Former CSCS)

Owner, Therapist

When Dr. Jeffrey Guild is not working as business owner and clinician, he is dedicating time to his wife and children. His other hobbies include working out (Mainly in the weight room), music (Listening, playing, & researching), history, science, and studying business and successful people.
Jeffrey is originally from Bettendorf, Iowa and went to The University of Iowa and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion (Minors in Integrative Physiology & Psychology). He also worked as a Strength & Conditioning intern with The University of Iowa for 3 years and volunteered in cardiac rehabilitation at The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Upon arriving to Texas, he interned at the Cooper Aerobics Center.
Jeffrey’s first career was as a strength & conditioning professional and personal trainer. Even in the fitness industry he specialized in working with people who were older and with physical limitations. His particular emphasis as a personal trainer was identifying basic movement problems to prevent injuries BEFORE the training started, which gave him a greater understanding about human movement and was a natural segway towards Physical Therapy.
Jeffrey graduated with a Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy at The University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth in 2013. He received the Dean’s research Award for the Allied Health Department and got published in multiple journals. After physical therapy school he started his career by receiving mentoring for over a year working in a vestibular/neurological specialty outpatient practice. Since then he has worked in a number of areas of physical therapy including inpatient rehabilitation, acute care, skilled nursing, memory care, and even pediatrics. In 2018 he started his own practice with the name “Optimove” with the emphasis on a combination of “optimal movement” and “optimism.”