Nymbl User Spotlight: Tori

See why Nymbl user Tori loves the Nymbl app, and how it’s helped her balance and confidence.

Thanks to Denver Regional Council of Governments ( DRCOG), Nymbl, a scientifically proven1 balance improvement app, is free to residents ages 60 and up. Did you know, our sensation of balance begins to naturally decline as we enter our 30s and 40s? You may or may not have noticed changes to your balance, but this decline happens to all of us naturally as we age. Leveraging a novel approach to balance training called dual- tasking ( doing two things at once), the Nymbl app can improve your balance in just 10 minutes per session - from home. In this approach, each session combines fun brain games ( like trivia) with light exercises that you do at the same time. These games and light exercises are all tailored to your ability level.

When it comes to having confidence in everyday activities, balance plays a crucial role. Many people have seen the results of a loved one’s fall, had a near- fall experience, or experienced a fall themselves. The truth is, if you’ve already had a fall, you’re at an increased risk of falling again.

“Before Nymbl, I was falling a lot… and had to use poles while walking,” says Tori, Nymbl user. “I had such a fear of falling that I concentrated on every step and looked down to watch my feet.” Fear can make you change your behavior and feel less confident, which increases your risk of falling. When we’re not confident, we avoid activities that might feel dangerous - like walking without poles, in Tori’s case.

While Tori wanted to improve her balance, she was never available at the same time as community balance classes. Nymbl makes access to balance training easy, as it’s designed to be done anywhere, anytime, in only 10 minutes per session. “I also realized that when I would walk, talking with a buddy at the same time would keep me more stable,” says Tori.

At first, Tori was reluctant to download the Nymbl app on her phone. But, when she saw that Nymbl combines light exercises with fun brain games — the same approach as walking and talking at the same time, also known as dual- tasking — she was eager to give it a try. Plus, “Nymbl was accessible, free, and so simple.”

Since adding Nymbl to her routine, Tori no longer needs to use poles and doesn’t worry about falling so much. “I gained a lot more confidence because of the Nymbl app,” Tori says. “I don’t have to think so hard about my walking now.”

It’s important to remember that everyone can improve their balance. It’s never too late ( or too early) to start, and most falls are preventable. The Nymbl app is different from traditional balance training, because it trains your balance reflex to better prepare you for the world’s many uncertainties. That’s why it takes just 10 minutes a session to improve your balance. Not only that, Nymbl can also boost your confidence. 90% of people who use Nymbl say they’ve kept doing activities they love.

Nymbl and DRCOG are committed to your health and wellness needs. Part of your health and wellness includes your balance. To help you keep doing the activities you love, Nymbl and DRCOG teamed up to offer adults ages 60 and up free access to the Nymbl app. Older adults in Adams, Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin and Jefferson counties, the City and County of Denver, and the City and County of Broomfield can sign up for Nymbl at zero cost by following the steps below.

Sources:

1. Enrica Papi et al., “Feasibility and acceptability study on the use of a smartphone application to facilitate balance training in the ageing population,” BMJ Open, doi: 10.1136/ bmjopen- 2020- 039054, https:// htt ps:// bmjopen. bmj. com/ content/ 10/ 12/ e039054.

2. Nymbl User Experience Survey. Education Program and Aging. Collected 06/ 2022 - 11/ 2022.

Do any of these resonate with you?

Nymbl’s app- based program is a great choice if:

You enjoy playing games to sharpen your memory

You want to improve your balance

You want to maintain your independent lifestyle

You are worried about falling or have experienced a fall

You are looking for an alternative to an in- person or online balance class

“Nymbl is accessible, free, and so simple! I gained a lot of confidence because of the Nymbl app.”

— Tori, Nymbl user