The Truth About Physical Therapy For Seniors
The Truth About Physical Therapy For Seniors

The Truth About Physical Therapy For Seniors

Physical therapy and the aging population go hand in hand.  After all, most seniors have not taken care of their bodies in the proper fashion.  Over time, poor posture can take over the body and with the help of gravity and degeneration, our seniors appear to be hunched over.

With the proper physical therapy and chiropractic care, those hunched spines can be rejuvenated again, should there be time.  Yes, you can wait too long and those spines will become permanently hunched over as arthritis and other factors start setting in.  The benefits to seniors from physical therapy are huge. 

Many of our muscle groups stiffen up over time and this limits our ability to move properly.  If you have mobility issues you should seek the advice of a physical therapist. 

Seniors have worked their entire life.  Most worked in positions that didn’t know much about ergonomics.  This generation of hard workers has wreaked havoc on their bodies.  Bending and sitting for long periods of time have allowed the muscles to bind up. 

Most have what we call text neck or even worse.  This happens when people are looking down too much.  We are seeing this more and more in recent times as people watch their phones, tablets, and mobile devices by looking down. 

However, the senior generation has this happening from looking down at their TVs and computers as well.  It is known that we should put our screens up to the proper eye level.  This allows your head, neck, and shoulders to not roll inward and you to look down.  This keeps your body in an upright position. 

Physical therapy for seniors

Physical therapy for seniors works by using exercise and stretching to get your muscles and bones working and aligned properly.   The alignment of your spine affects every aspect of the rest of your body.  Your arms and legs are attached to it.  How your weight comes down on your knees all stem from it.  It affects everything.

So, if you are having knee issues and are a senior, you might want to have your alignment checked out by a physical therapist.  They will take the time to look at your posture and help you find the road to recovery. 

Many of our seniors have alignment issues.  In fact, this hasn’t been addressed really, until recent years.  Posture is something that they probably had gotten on their kids about, but never really thought about it for themselves.  Standing up straight is something of the past, but really, it can be restored more now than ever before. 

There are software programs out there that can monitor your spine and show how far off it is from the natural curvature.  This software is very revolutionary and offers an easy way to show the patients where their spine is off and how far.  This will help the doctors to give the patients the very best services possible to help with their posture alignments.

Physical Therapy For Seniors - Poor Posture
Physical Therapy For Seniors – Poor Posture

Poor Posture

Working at a desk all day or looking down at a workstation for hours on end can really take a toll on your posture.  As we age, gravity takes ahold and there is no going back on our own. That’s why it is important to get into seeing a professional physical therapist as soon as possible.  The longer you wait, the more likely there isn’t anything that can be done. 

It is important that you take the time to correct your posture, even if you are not in any pain.  This will help your mental clarity and overall well being.  You will notice it is easy to do things and easier to work and stand.  Your mobility will increase and you will be able to enjoy life a little more.  Get back to what you have always loved doing. 

Taking the time to see a physical therapist is one issue that many patients talk about.  However, once you have your initial appointment and it is determined what your treatment will look like, you can discuss with them your schedule and work with them on something that will work for you.

This isn’t forever, however, you will be taught things that you can do at home at times.  And, you will certainly learn about how to improve your posture to ensure that you maintain the proper alignment in your spine.  You can even discuss a maintenance plan that will help you maintain the proper posture with your physical therapist.

Sudden fall – see your physical therapist

Physical therapy for seniors has been improving over the years.  Now it isn’t just for those that have had surgeries or a fall.  Physical therapy can help with those things but it can help with so many more aspects as well. 

If you have been in a car accident or had a fall you certainly need to take the time to get checked to ensure that your soft tissue is okay as well as your spine.  A fall or car accident can go pain-free for a few days, but eventually, the pain will show up.  Pain from these sorts of accidents can linger and last for years if not corrected properly. 

Physical therapy and the aging population.

Physical therapy is one of the best treatments for the aging population.  It typically is very kind to the body and goes at the pace that the patient can handle.  Physical therapy and the aging population go hand in hand.  As we age, our bodies will start to break down.  It is important that we address this in time before there is nothing that can be done. 

Take the time to educate yourself on what you can do to stay active and healthy.  From how to sit and stand to what you eat, it is all-important to our overall health.  Be sure that you are not only making healthy choices for your posture but you are making them for your entire body. 

As we age we lose mobility, especially if we don’t work at it.  Taking the time to do some simple exercises will help you keep your mobility.  The physical therapist will show you different exercises that you can do at home to improve your mobility and maintain it.  If you are a senior with mobility issues, a physical therapist can help.

About Dr. Ricardo Lalama

Dr. Ricardo Lalama, DC , a Fair Lawn, NJ Chiropractor, is a caring and highly experienced Chiropractic Physician with outstanding clinical experience in treating patients. Whether it be a series of Chiropractic adjustments or utilizing an integrated medical approach to attain your ultimate health , Dr. Ricardo Lalama, DC and team are one of the best options to help get your healing on the right path. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

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