People over 60 remain at a higher risk of a variety of health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis (OA), obesity, osteoporosis, pneumonia, and respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Apart from that, they are also vulnerable to stress, anxiety, depression, falls and musculoskeletal problems such as the back, neck, knee, and hip pain, etc.
The cells in the human body start losing their ability to function effectively with age, which creates changes in tissues (connective tissues, epithelial tissue, muscle tissue, and nerve tissue) and organs. It means, most of the cells, tissues, and organs fail to function appropriately with age, which leads to health complications.
With age, your muscles, ligaments, tendons, joints, and bones start to deteriorate putting you at the risk of a large number of chronic conditions that lead to pain and discomfort.
According to a report, “Approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic disease, and 77% have at least two.” The same report says “90% of Americans aged 55+ are at risk for hypertension, or high blood pressure.”
Although there are several ways of dealing with age-related health problems, physical therapy is one of the best among them. Involving the use of techniques like manual therapy, heat or cold therapy, therapeutic exercises, massage therapy, and Kinesio Taping, etc., physical therapy helps in strengthening the natural ability of your body to heal injuries and illnesses.
Here is a detailed description of why seniors should opt for physical therapy
For Reducing Pain and Discomfort
If you are over 60, and you are dealing with a health problem, you should seek physical therapy to treat it without further ado. Whether you are experiencing pain due to an injury or a chronic illness, physical therapy can play a vital role in reducing it and managing the signs and symptoms of your problem.
The level of discomfort that you often feel due to a health problem will reduce to a great extent once you start seeking physical therapy from an experienced physical therapist. Your physical therapist will analyze your flexibility and range of motion apart from the severity of the pain to identify the actual cause of your problem.
And once they identify the nature of your illness or injury, they will then incorporate the right treatment techniques to address your problem.
For Increasing Flexibility
As you age, you tend to lose your flexibility due to various reasons, but seeking physical therapy at the right time can solve this problem. Whether you have reduced your flexibility due to a joint injury or a chronic illness, your therapist will use the most effective techniques like massage therapy and therapeutic exercise to improve it.
They will ask you to perform a lot of physical activities to improve your flexibility, and you should do that without fail.
For Restoring Strength
Whether you talk about muscle strength or joint strength, physical therapy provides remarkable results when it comes to restoring them. Your physical therapist will use manual therapy techniques and strength building exercises to strengthen your muscle and joint health. They may also use massage therapy to improve your circulation, reduce muscle or joint pain, and to promote relaxation.
For Easing Depression
If you are struggling with a condition like Alzheimer’s Disease or arthritis, it increases your stress and anxiety level. Sometimes it can also lead to depression, which can reduce your quality of life. However, if you seek physical therapy at the right time, it can relieve your stress and anxiety, and can also ease depression.
By managing the signs and symptoms of the above problems physical thereby can bring a world of difference in your quality of life.
For Preventing Falls
Since you lose your flexibility and strength in old age, it eventually affects the balance which increases the risk of falls. And falls can cause severe injuries that not only lead to pain and discomfort but can have a further impact on your strength, flexibility, and range of motion. So, if you want to avoid these problems, make sure that you seek physical therapy immediately.
According to Power in Motion Rehabilitation Inc,”Physical therapy is the most effective tool for improving balance and gait training. Working with an experienced physical therapist can help you to regain your strength and footing by adopting new strategies regarding movement and posture.”
For Regaining Independence
No one wants to depend on others to meet their daily requirements, and seniors are no exception. Dependency on caregivers not only increases seniors’ frustration level but it also lowers their confidence and self-esteem. They want to live an independent life where they can carry out the activities of daily living with ease, without bothering others. However, due to reduced flexibility, strength, and range of motion, they find it utterly difficult to live a dignified and independent life.
So, if you are also one among them, don’t hesitate to seek physical therapy immediately.