The term “seniors” can be loosely defined as people who are 55 or older, and people in this age group are more likely to have issues with their balance. This is because they are more likely to suffer from osteoarthritis and other chronic conditions. These conditions affect the muscles and joints which can make keeping your balance more difficult. To help improve the balance of seniors, many physical therapy practices offer balance training. Here are three benefits that balance training can provide for seniors:
- Improve strength and flexibility
One problem that can cause seniors to have a greater risk of losing their balance is a decrease in muscle strength. Also, your joints may have become less flexible thanks to arthritis, which can also affect your balance. Balance training for seniors can help you improve your balance by using several techniques to improve muscle strength and joint flexibility.
Many physical therapists use manual therapies like joint mobilization. This technique is designed to help loosen joints that have been restricted by arthritis. Therapeutic exercises are also a major part of balance training. These exercises can be personalized to your needs, and they can target balancing muscles in your legs, core and back.
- Reduce your risk of falling
Another benefit of balance training for seniors is that it can help reduce your risk of falling. Besides decreased muscle strength and joint mobility, there are other issues that can increase your risk of losing your balance. You might be doing routine tasks in a way that makes falling more likely.
For example, a senior might be using a step stool to reach items on higher shelf in the kitchen, and using this method can increase your fall risk. Physical therapists can introduce you to assistance devices that can allow you to access items on high shelves without getting on a stool. Simple lifestyle changes like these can greatly reduce your risk of losing your balance and falling.
- Help you stay active and independent
Poor balance can make seniors feel like they can’t move around, and consequently, they might feel like they’ve lost much of their independence. However, balance training for seniors can help you regain the confidence you need to move around. Therapists can help you regain your confidence with a program of daily balance exercises. Such a program allows you to work on your balance every day, and it can lead to significant increases in strength and flexibility. In turn, this can lead to an increased sense of independence and a higher quality of life.
Border Therapy Services can help you find balance training specifically for seniors
Our Border Therapy Services team has clinics located in El Paso and Horizon City, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. At each of our clinics, we’re committed to finding ways to help seniors maintain a high quality of life. We can perform a free screening to help you find out what issues are affecting your balance, and we’ll use this information to build you a personalized therapy plan that may use techniques like:
- Manual therapy
- Aquatic therapy
- Spine care and stabilization
Take the next step to get our help with your balance issues. Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.