Discover How Physical Therapy Can Help You Maintain Your Mobility AND Regain Lost Mobility!
As stated by the American Senior Communities website, “When seniors are recovering from an illness, injury or surgery, taking part in a senior rehabilitation program is vital to restoring functionality, reducing pain and improving quality of life. Rehabilitation for seniors often includes a mix of physical, occupational and speech therapies all designed with the individual’s specific needs and abilities in mind.”
At FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, our physical therapists can help soothe a patient’s pain when it comes to health conditions related to aging. We want to ensure patients are experiencing an improved quality of life as a result of their treatment with us.
Our Riverstone physical therapy team can help you maintain a strong and mobile body as you age, manage and prevent chronic illnesses, and keep you active and energized throughout your golden years. Contact FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers today to get started on the first steps toward a happier, healthier, more active life!
Find relief with physical therapy
Aging causes bones to shrink and muscles to lose their strength, making it more common for us to lose our balance and injure ourselves as we age. In addition to age, there can be many causes of balance and gait disorders, as they can develop from many different underlying conditions – many of which can be exaggerated by age.
A patient’s initial physical therapy evaluation will include assessments to pinpoint pain symptoms, causes of arthritis, or reasons for muscle weakness. Testing may include vision screenings, cognitive tests, assessment of vitals at rest and with activity, as well as evaluation of their gait, balance, flexibility, and strength.
Based on the results of this evaluation, a physical therapist will design a treatment plan around each patient’s specific needs. These plans are aimed to reduce a patient’s risk of falling, but they will also aid in improving balance, strength, flexibility, endurance, and overall movement.
Some common forms of treatment include pain management, balance training, and strength training.
As explained by the National Institutes of Health, “Although much physical activity research has focused on older adults who are free of disability and illness, the need still exists for a healthy aging research agenda specific to older adults with mobility disability for tertiary prevention purposes. Promoting healthy aging among people who already have mobility disabilities has been neglected.
People with mobility disabilities may benefit from living in accordance with a healthy aging model that includes ‘the development and maintenance of optimal physical, mental, and social well-being and function.’ While the underlying mobility disability may not be reversible, general mental, physical, and cognitive health can be improved.”
Evidence Supporting Physical Therapy and Fall Prevention in Aging Adults
Experiencing a loss of mobility can keep someone from doing everyday activities. According to a study done at the National Library of Medicine, “It is well established that the prevalence of functional limitations and disability is associated with aging. For example, 31.7% of adults aged 65 years and older report difficulty in walking 3 city blocks; 11.3% of adults aged 45 to 64 years have similar difficulty.”
In a study published by the APTA, which includes over 100 randomized controlled trials, exercise interventions are supported as an effective treatment method for aging patients with an increased risk of falling. The average age of patients in this review was 76, and 77% of the patients were women.
Results concluded that those who participated in exercise interventions had a 23% decrease in falls as compared to the control group. The risk of fall-related fractures was decreased by 27%, and the number of falls that required medical attention was decreased by 39%. Concluding statements from the authors noted how overall, “Exercise reduces both the rate of falls…and the number of people experiencing falls.”
Interested in getting started on a physical therapy treatment plan? Contact us today
We make it our goal to educate patients on the importance of staying active with age. Our non-invasive, safe, and effective physical therapy treatments are a wonderful option for aging patients trying to avoid costly surgery and harmful medications.
Our Riverstone physical therapists can teach proper stretches and exercises to increase strength and eliminate pain caused by arthritis or other conditions. They can also provide patients with a custom treatment plan and at-home exercises to restore range of motion, balance and gait, and overall mobility.
Do you think you could benefit from our physical therapy treatment plants? Contact FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers today to get started on the path toward the relief you deserve. We can help pave the way to your recovery, and get you back to doing the things you love doing!