Blog Layout
5 Benefits of Physical Therapy for Seniors
Lisa Reisman • Aug 28, 2019
How can we help you today?
5 Reasons to Start Physical Therapy
As we age, our bodies develop pain that can be from a number of causes. Taking pain medication daily can be harsh on our organs and eventually build up a tolerance making the medications less effective and possibly addictive. Physical therapy can be a wonderful way for seniors to keep their bodies moving and healthy, while working to keep the pain at bay.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is a branch of rehabilitation that’s specifically designed to improve physical abilities. For seniors recovering from an illness or chronic pain, physical therapy can help work to relieve pain and improve a variety of health-related aspects. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, physical therapists (PTs) are the licensed healthcare professionals who can help patients reduce pain and restore mobility, in many cases without the need for expensive surgeries and excessive medication.
Major Benefits of Physical Therapy
Decreased Pain
Chronic pain affects each person differently. Dealing with daily pain can increase chances of depression and anxiety and make an already challenging life for seniors increasingly difficult. One of the major contributing pain factors for seniors is arthritis. Physical therapy has been proven to play a vital role in helping manage the pain associated with the different types of arthritis that seniors endure. For seniors, physical therapists may recommend different treatment options, such as braces and splints to support joints, shoe inserts to relieve stress on the lower extremities, and hot and cold therapy to ease joint pain and stiffness.
Improved Cognitive Function
In an article on Psychology Today, it discusses a study done at the University of Eastern Finland supporting the relationship between physical activity and a decreased risk of dementia. The researchers found that participants who engaged in physical activity at least twice a week had a lower risk of dementia than those who were less active. The research also showed that it’s never too late to start. Becoming more physically active after midlife was shown to lower dementia risk. Physical therapy can allow seniors to work areas of their bodies that may not be particularly active and act as an effective preventative measure in decreasing one's chance of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia, or making sure it doesn’t worsen with age over time.
Infection Prevention
Given that the hospitalization rates are highest among elderly people, their chances of developing an infection in cuts, wounds, or bedsores is likely. Being active under the care of a trained physical therapist can help restore strength and keep sores from worsening given their time spent immobile in a hospital bed. Lack of movement can also increase one's chance of developing pneumonia, another form of infection that physical therapy can help stop.
Help with Incontinence
Senior women in specific are more prone to urinary troubles, which can be helped with the use of physical therapy. Physical therapy can target most areas of the body, and with urinary incontinence, there are a number of pelvic floor exercises that can be shown to patients in order to improve urinary functions. Most women who suffer from urinary incontinence aren’t aware of why it’s happening. Working with physical therapists can assist women in gaining the awareness they need of their bladder- supporting muscles (pubococcygeus and sphincter) and then learn how to strengthen them in order to control their bladder better.
Fall Prevention
Falling can be one of the most deadly challenges that seniors may face. Even healthy seniors can take an accidental tumble and have to deal with the repercussions that an aging body may not be up for. According to the National Council on Aging, one in three seniors fall each year. That statistic would be dramatically decreased if more seniors sought out physical therapy for overall strengthening of the body. Physical therapy can improve functionality and flexibility of aging joints and muscles. Especially after a hospital stay, which often leads to decreased strength and balance, seniors need physical therapy to protect against falls.
If you’re interested in seeing a physical therapist, talk to your physician about a referral. There are a variety of in-home physical therapy services that can make it more accessible to those who can’t leave their homes, and to make it easier on the caregivers. Finding a physical therapist in your neighbor can also be done by visiting this website
and entering in your zip code or city.
Learn about the common symptoms of COVID-19, reasons why older people have a wide variety of symptoms & how to spot early signs of COVID-19 in the elderly.
Learn about the symptoms of COVID-19 & how it spreads. Know the difference between asymptomatic & symptomatic.
Learn why the elderly have a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 & why the risks are higher when they have underlying health conditions.
Learn about the signs when your loved one faces comprehension difficulties. Know how a cognitive impairment disease can affect you & your loved ones.
You’ve heard the name many times by now— Coronavirus (or COVID-19) is a disease that’s become so deadly it’s spiraled us into a global pandemic. For those unfamiliar with how it got its name, in COVID-19, 'CO' stands for 'corona,' 'VI' for 'virus,' and 'D' for the disease. According to the CDC, “coronavirus” is actually an umbrella term for a family of viruses that can cause illness in animals or humans.
No matter what age, we all have moments of confusion. But when your elderly loved one is consistently exhibiting these signs, it might be because s/he is undergoing cognitive impairment. Having difficulty comprehending is a common sign these problems; however, it is often brushed aside as "old age." The person experiencing these difficulties may make excuses: the TV shows today are too complicated, their family members talk too fast, the lights are too dim to read. Ignoring the signs of comprehension difficulties, though, just make life harder for everyone involved. Comprehension and Confusion Comprehension is the opposite of confusion. Comprehension is a complex process in the brain through a system of nerves and chemicals, and it involves language, recognition, and function processes. Cognitive impairment disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's disrupt those complex processes. It can manifest as sudden memory loss, impaired motor coordination, and other more subtle thought processes that we will discuss. When someone has difficulty with comprehension, s/he has trouble putting together the various actions needed to perform a task. For example, your mom might need a cup from the cupboard. In order to do so, she must first decide she wants the cup. Then she might need to get out of her chair, walk across the kitchen, raise her hand, open the cupboard, and take the cup out of the cupboard. If she has difficulty with comprehension, she will have a hard time putting all of these elements to work to achieve her goal, which might result in several different outcomes: she could fall, break the cup, or just forget what she was doing before she reaches the cupboard. She knows what she wants to do but has trouble making all the connections necessary to get there. How Cognitive Impairment Affects Your Loved One Difficulty comprehending is frustrating for your elderly loved one and for you, but the first step toward helping your loved one is understanding what s/he is experiencing. Here are some examples of how someone with dementia or Alzheimer's disease might have trouble comprehending everyday situations. TV/books: Someone with dementia might not be able to follow a basic storyline and could not tell somebody else what is going on in the TV show or book. Social situations: Someone with dementia might see two children playing and interpret that they are fighting or vice versa. The person with dementia may step in and try to resolve the situation without realizing what is actually happening. Conversations: As with the TV/book example, someone with dementia can't follow an everyday conversation . S/he doesn't know who or what is being discussed and especially cannot tell when the subject matter has changed. Time: Someone with trouble comprehending will have difficulty telling time and might not know whether it is day or night. How Cognitive Impairment Affects You Because of these comprehension difficulties, the person experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's disease will rely on the people around him/her to tell him/her what is going on. For instance, your loved one may constantly ask you to repeat yourself. S/he may also have trouble following instructions. These situations can be aggravating for you, particularly if they are new, however it is important to understand that your loved one is not trying to bother you by failing to follow directions or asking you to repeat information over and over. These are symptoms of cognitive impairment , and neither you nor they can control it. If your family member begins to exhibit any of these signs, take him or her to your physician with a description of the comprehension difficulties you've noticed so that s/he has plenty of information for a cognitive function assessment. If the doctor diagnoses dementia or Alzheimer's, ask specific questions about treatment so that you can do your part to serve your loved one despite mild cognitive impairment. It is important to get help for your loved one, and there is no reason for you to care for your loved one alone. Caring for an aging relative requires time, patience, and expert care. Complete Care At Home can help you create a customized plan to meet the unique needs of your loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Contact us today for an expert assessment.
Learn about aggression, dementia & how you can cope with people experiencing those illnesses through home health care services by Complete Care At Home.
Alzheimer's and dementia are debilitating diseases. Learn more about the differences and signs of dementia and Alzheimer's disease from normal forgetfulness.
Learn about the Elderly Loved One Being RepetitiveComplete Care At Home has a team of experts to take care of elderly family members.
Learn about the signs your loved ones might need home care services & how complete care at home services can help your loved ones to live safely.