Physical therapy can aid seniors in maintaining their independence, whether dealing with a chronic disease or simply wanting to improve their overall mobility and health. Physical therapy is designed to recover and enhance functionality by reducing pain and improving mobility to help you gain endurance and balance.
Falls are the primary reason why seniors need physical therapy. As they age, people are more likely to lose strength, flexibility, and, often, their balance, and keeping the fitness level they want to attain is becoming more difficult. In the event of a decline in these abilities, it could cause a fall, resulting in serious injury. Physical therapy aids in improving these abilities.
How Does Physical Therapy Help Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disorder characterized by the loss of bone density and mass, which can cause an increased risk of fractures. It is usually the reason behind numerous accidents. Regular physical therapy and a workout program can reduce the negative effects of this condition.
Exercise and strength training in physical therapy may aid in easing the signs of arthritis. Patients suffering from arthritis may benefit from physical therapy as it offers exercises that help keep the strength and flexibility of joints. Physical therapy provides therapeutic techniques to ease discomfort using exercise and modification of activity.
In addition, therapists recommend physical therapy in many instances following hospitalization. Inadequate treatment after hospitalization can have serious consequences.
How Does Geriatric Physical Therapy Help Older Adults?
Physical therapy for the elderly helps adults regain muscle strength and balance, and coordination required to increase their ability to walk, overall mobility and functioning, and carry out daily activities.
Consequences Of Not Having Physical Activity
Engaging with a therapist can reduce pain, but it can also help improve your overall strength and performance and lower the risk of injuries. Thus, it would allow you to maintain an improved quality of life.
- Falls – Many people suffer from weakness and are more prone to fall following hospitalization. Failure to receive therapy following hospitalization can lead to being rehospitalized because of an injury sustained in falling.
- Infections – When there is no active movement due to weakness, which could have been addressed through physical therapy, it is more likely to increase the risk of contracting pneumonia. Also, there is a higher risk of skin issues like ulcers that may result from the inability to move.
- Increased Endurance and Strength – During recovery, physical therapy may affect the endurance and strength you’ll experience even after your therapy sessions. It can also lead to increased blood pressure and heart rate and decreased oxygen saturation levels. As a result, it may lead to blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
- Reduced Education – Education via physical therapy can help you perform daily tasks efficiently to improve your physical and mental well-being and quality of life.
- Increased pain – Joints become stiff when you’re not moving and not taking physical therapy. Increased mobility causes greater discomfort.
Physical therapy for seniors can bring numerous benefits, including gaining strength and stability and giving new confidence. It can help seniors gain the freedom to live their lives and help them with their daily chores.
How Does Geriatric Physical Therapy Work?
Geriatric physical therapy is designed for older people with specific problems and difficulties. The field of physical therapy for the elderly is based on the fact that older adults get less active as they age, experience weaker muscles and coordination, and timing, and have less tolerance to physical exercise.
Physical therapy for seniors differs from other forms of physical therapy since it is focused on building endurance and strength for older adults. It can help with the following aspects:
- Staying active
- To prevent deconditioning (reversal of conditioning that was previously in place)
- The prevention of the development of muscle atrophy (the degeneration of muscles)
- Reduced risk of falling and the resulting injuries
- Maintaining independence while performing daily tasks
Conclusion
Physical therapy for the elderly focuses on helping seniors develop their muscles for everyday tasks like walking, climbing stairs, changing positions, and preventing osteoporosis through proper posture.
Participating in geriatric physical therapy could aid older adults in remaining independent and help prevent other health issues resulting from lack of physical activity, like muscle atrophy. Get the help that you need. Contact us now.
Zygotherapy Inc.
995 Montague Expy STE 213, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
408-708-4153
