June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. If you haven’t seen a friend or family member impacted by Alzheimer's disease and dementia, consider yourself lucky. It is estimated that over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.
With an increase in the aging population continuing for at least the next few decades, the number of our friends and family impacted by Alzheimer’s is only going to increase. But clinicians and researchers continue to look for treatment options for Alzheimer’s disease. And recent research by physical therapists and others is showing great promise.
Physical Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
You may already know that because Alzheimer’s Disease is a progressive condition, one of the main goals of treatment is in slowing the disease progression. While medication remains a priority, over the last few years, physical activity has shown great promise in the management and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Physical Therapists like those here at FYZICAL Oklahoma City are experts in movement and functional physical activity. This is key to treating the symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease; to maintain your current level of functioning and prevent disease progression you need to be engaged in movements that are functional for you. The activities you practice with your physical therapist need to translate to your life outside of physical therapy, and FYZICAL’s PTs know just how to do that.
Isn't it time you called your Oklahoma City Physical Therapists to see what FYZICAL can do for you? CALL FYZICAL
Physical Therapy Treatment in the Stages of Alzheimer's
The three stages of Alzheimer’s are unique in their characteristics. This means the physical therapy you need at each stage may look slightly different. No matter where you are in your journey FYZICAL has someone who can help you Love Your Life!
Early-Stage Alzheimer’s (Mild) Treatment
During early-stage Alzheimer’s, one common symptom is difficulty performing tasks in social or work settings. The trouble with planning and organizing, particularly motor planning, can play a big role in this. Your physical therapist will want to know which tasks you are having the most difficulty with to help you practice the gross and fine motor movements you need to be successful.
Additionally, recent research by Dr. Jill Morris and colleagues showed that individuals engaged in aerobic exercise can increase functional ability. That means that individuals with Alzheimer’s can not only slow the progress of their disease but improve their ability to independently complete tasks. What would it mean for you and your loved ones if you could improve your independence with daily tasks?
Although not statistically significant, the study also showed that aerobic exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness. This is important because cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with improved memory performance. Better memory and improved physical health will only improve your quality of life. Isn’t that worth the time and energy in Physical Therapy?
Schedule a Free Consultation today.
Middle-Stage Alzheimer’s (Moderate) Treatment
During middle-stage Alzheimer’s, many people have a problem with bowel and bladder control. This is a challenge that can rob you of your dignity and independence, but pelvic floor physical therapy may be able to help.
The pelvic floor physical therapists at FYZICAL Oklahoma City are trained to treat both men and women with bowel and bladder incontinence. If you are having issues with leakage, your pelvic floor physical therapist can determine the cause and help you reduce your dependence on pads and adult undergarments. Pelvic floor physical therapy for incontinence is relatively straightforward, the focus is on proper muscle contractions and relaxation. But you need to act sooner rather than later.
Our PTs have treated patients well into their 90s, but we recognize that as cognition slows, the gains we can make can slow as well. The further your Alzheimer’s progress, the less successful pelvic floor physical therapy will be. If you are suffering from incontinence, today is the day to reach out for treatment.
I want to stop leaking, today!
Late-Stage Alzheimer’s (Severe) Treatment
By late-stage Alzheimer’s, personal care can become a nearly round-the-clock experience. It is difficult for an individual with Alzheimer’s to move around; even walking, sitting, and swallowing can become difficult. We know that not all patients are going to benefit from Physical Therapy at this time, but for those still trying to walk or move, FYZICAL Oklahoma City is ready.
Our Physical Therapists are trained specifically in balance and fall prevention techniques that benefit many older adults. Balance and gait (walking) deficits are more common in individuals with Alzheimer’s. Specifically, when it comes to a change in surface (such as from concrete to grass, or from a tile floor to the carpet), individuals with Alzheimer’s have a slower gait, which is an indicator of increased fall risk.2 Balance rehabilitation with a physical therapist can drastically reduce the risk of falls. In particular, recent work using virtual reality to treat vestibular deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (like that of Alzheimer’s disease) showed great promise. The study showed that virtual reality can help patients reduce challenges associated with visual-vestibular deficits, improve postural control (associated with reduced fall risk), and improve quality of life.3
Additionally, our Safety Overhead System allows for safe activity; by placing our patients in a 5-point harness tethered to an overhead rail and trolley system, we give our patients as much independence and autonomy as they can handle.
Just call to set up a free consultation today.
How Does Alzheimer's Affect Daily Life?
We know that following a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, there will be an increased need for help. There will be additional visits to the doctor, there will be specialists to see, and everyone will need support. (In Oklahoma? Check out the Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma).
One of the big questions following a diagnosis is “Can Alzheimer’s get better?” Or “How can Alzheimer’s be treated?” Today Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, but Physical Therapy can treat several challenging symptoms of Alzheimer's and may aid in slowing the disease progression.
Physical Therapists are the experts in movement, so when it comes to the unique challenges that come with different stages of Alzheimer’s disease, consider whether a physical therapist should be part of your care team.
If you have questions or are concerned about yourself or a loved one, set up an appointment with a healthcare provider. As always, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us here at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City.
-FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City
FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City provides balance rehabilitation and orthopedic physical therapy in Lakeside, The Village, Nichols Hills, and surrounding NW Oklahoma City. Our physical therapists are specially trained to treat all types of pain, movement disorders, and musculoskeletal dysfunction including Parkinson's Disease. Our practitioners take a patient-centered individualized approach that focuses on your health needs. If you are unsure about your balance, or you want to see the FYZICAL Difference for yourself, schedule a free consultation today.
References
- https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0170547
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4632639/
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alessandro_Micarelli2/publication/333005629_Vestibular_Rehabilitation_in_older_adults_with_and_without_mild_cognitive_impairment_effects_of_virtual_reality_using_a_head-mounted_display/links/5cdd1349a6fdccc9ddb20f85/Vestibular-Rehabilitation-in-older-adults-with-and-without-mild-cognitive-impairment-effects-of-virtual-reality-using-a-head-mounted-display.pdf