Physiotherapy will be an excellent asset for older people. It can help them stay more independent, increase mobility, and reduce symptoms of health conditions, like Parkinson’s, arthritis, and strokes. Many older people are surprised by the results of just a few physiotherapy sessions.
Increased flexibility and strength allows them to regain the mobility they thought they had lost. They are often able to perform tasks much more easily, such as reaching for an object on a high shelf, that had been causing them trouble for years. Read on to find out what is the impact and benefits of physiotherapy for the elderly
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What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is defined as the treatment of diseases, injuries or deformities by doing physical methods like massage, heat treatments and physical activities, other than using drugs or surgery. Physiotherapy focuses mostly on the treatment of functional problems related to pain, poor resistance, problems with balance or difficulty in walking and muscle weakness.
This decline in overall health associated with the aging process can make older people’s daily tasks more challenging and in turn increase the risk of serious injury.
Use of physiotherapy in the elderly to treat diseases
Throughout the aging process, the risk of certain diseases increases. Medical professionals are discovering that physiotherapy can be used to help the elderly manage these various diseases:
- Arthritis: Most people over the age of 65 have some type of arthritis in the spine and may not have any initial symptoms or pain. Physical therapists use physical techniques to ease any discomfort or prevent any future pain that may occur as a result of arthritis in the elderly.
- Stroke: Older people who have suffered a stroke usually experience loss of muscle strength on one side of the body. To treat this symptom, physical therapists use a restraint-induced movement therapy method in which the good limb is restricted, allowing the individual to focus on strength training for their weaker limb, stimulating the part of the brain that controls movement and restoring proper function of the affected limb.
- Incontinence – Working with older people to identify specific muscles and how to use them correctly, physios can assign pelvic exercises that increase the strength of the muscles that control the bladder.
- Parkinson’s disease: Although Parkinson’s in older people remains irreversible and progressive, medication and physiotherapy can help improve trunk flexibility, decreasing the involuntary robotic movements associated with the disease.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Physiotherapy work with older people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia to create exercises that can improve memory functions and delay the onset of more serious memory problems.
The benefits of physiotherapy for the elderly
Some of the benefits of physiotherapy for seniors include:
- Reduced risk of falls – Falls are the leading cause of injury in older people and, in most cases, can lead to skin wounds, fractures, or other life-threatening injuries. Physical therapists use various extension exercises that emphasize flexibility, strength, and proper gait to reduce the risk of future falls.
- Pain Management Without Surgery or Medications – Physiotherapy has proven to be a cost-effective way to treat chronic pain without resorting to elective surgeries or prescription medications.
- Reduced risk of infection: Older people who are not active are at higher risk of getting pneumonia or developing skin problems, such as ulcers, that occur due to lack of movement.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Everyone knows that exercise is a key element of good health, but as we age it becomes essential to maintain our daily lifestyle. Older people who use physiotherapy for exercise are more active, reducing the risk of obesity-related problems.
Thanks to physiotherapist in Newcastle, it is observed how older adults combat immobility and lack of activity and strengthen their bones, muscles and each organ system, greatly improving their quality of life. When it comes to rehabilitation, physiotherapy can mean the definitive cure and the beginning of a new stage of health.
The advantages of physiotherapy in the elderly include both physical and mental health benefits. Many people over 65 years of age, exercising with physical therapists, find a different way of relating to other people, outside of their normal environment. This increases their self-esteem and gives them a new vitality that they sometimes need.
Physiotherapy in older adults is very important. There are plenty of reasons to name and also the reasons why Transcend Health is your best option. Do not hesitate to contact us for inquiries.
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