Taking care of your health is important at all ages, but it’s especially important as we get older when staying healthy takes a little more work than it did in our younger days. For many individuals, that means regular dates with their mall walking group or bi-weekly yoga sessions with a friend, but another activity you can add to your health regimen is physical therapy.
As we’ve said on the blog in the past, physical therapy is not just something to pursue if you’re recovering from an injury or after a surgery. It can also be used in a proactive manner to help address some of the challenges that senior citizens face to their health. Below, we take a closer look at some of the many benefits physical therapy can have for senior citizens.
How Seniors Can Benefit From PT
Some of the benefits that senior citizens and older individuals can achieve by working with a physical therapist include:
- Arthritis Prevention and Management – Arthritis is one of if not the most common health conditions that affects people over the age of 55, and physical therapy can be a great way to not only treat it, but prevent it. Physical therapy can work to improve mobility and flexibility in certain joints that are susceptible to arthritis development. Not only can this stave off arthritis, but it can help alleviate symptoms if you’re dealing with the early stages of the condition. You can’t turn back the clock on your joints, so you need to preserve the function that remains, and physical therapy can do just that.
- Cardiovascular Health – Controlled physical activity through a PT routine can also help improve your cardiovascular health. A physical therapy routine will keep you active, which helps get your blood pumping and building your heart health. If other health conditions or physical limitations make it difficult for you to get traditional exercise, a physical therapy routine can be a perfect way to strengthen your heart health with a therapy routine that suits your physical needs.
- Balance Improvement And Reduced Fall Risk – Falls are one of the most common reasons for hospital admission for patients over the age of 65. Sometimes these falls are the result of bad luck, but many times they are due to balance issues that can develop as we get older. Physical therapy can help strengthen key foot, knee and hip areas that contribute to our ability to stay balanced. If you’re interested in improving your coordination or your balance, consider setting up a session with a physical therapist.
- Improve Independence – It can be tough for people to come to grips with the idea that they are slowly losing their ability to remain independent. It can be hard to admit that you need to rely on others to help you perform certain activities, and many people would rather try and fail by themselves than feel like a burden for asking for help. Know that you are not a burden for asking for help, but also know that you can help regain independence by participating in a physical therapy routine. With an individualized physical therapy plan, we can help you regain some abilities that allow you to remain independent, like cook, drive or maintain your household. Don’t stop doing the things you love just because you’re getting older, let us help you hold onto your independence by helping keep your health and physical capabilities strong.
If you want assistance with any of the above areas, or you’re just wondering if physical therapy may be right for you or a loved one, reach out to the experienced team at OrthoRehab Specialists today to see what we can do for you.