Our physical abilities decline as we age. Our balance is no longer as good, our muscles are less flexible, and we can’t perform repeated movements as well. This results in fractures from falls for some. Fortunately, there are things aging adults can do to maintain independence and physical health.
Physical therapy for older adults (geriatric physical therapy) is one of the ways we can maintain our health. Rehabilitation through physical therapy assists patients in regaining function and improving or maintaining their quality of life. This article will discuss some benefits of physical therapy for older adults and how Synergy can help you.
What is Geriatric Physical Therapy?
Geriatric Physical Therapy focuses on the evaluation and treatment of older adults. It is designed to address aging seniors’ unique challenges, including pelvic floor strengthening, balance, any physical impairments or issues with mobility, chronic pain, and diseases such as Parkinson’s, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s.
Synergy offers comprehensive physical therapy services to help aging seniors maintain and even improve physical health and independence. Synergy’s physical therapists are licensed. They work with each patient to develop a treatment plan to address specific needs and goals.
Our services include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, gait training, balance practice and coordination therapy, fall prevention, and home safety education. With our help, older adults can reduce pain, improve mobility, and continue to live independently.
What Other Conditions Does Physical Therapy Treat?
Physical therapy for seniors is used for many conditions, such as:
- Arthritis: Arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness, and reduced range of motion. Older adult physical therapy helps improve the function of the affected joints and exercises targeted to those areas, including manual therapy techniques.
- Parkinson’s Disease: Causes stiffness, problems with gait and balance, and tremors. Physical therapy benefits seniors and helps improve mobility, coordination, and balance with targeted manual therapy techniques.
- Stroke: Individuals have different movement and coordination difficulties after a stroke. Physical therapy for older adults can help improve movement, muscle strength, and function in affected areas through targeted exercises and neuromuscular re-education.
- Osteoporosis: Causes bones to be weak and increases the fracture risk. Physical therapy for older adults can help improve bone density by reducing fall risk through education on fall reduction in the home and weight-bearing exercises.
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s: Cause a reduction of mobility through cognitive impairment. Physical therapy for older adults can improve quality of life by maintaining physical function through exercises that promote balance, flexibility, and strength.
Synergy provides physical therapy services to help seniors improve and maintain their independence and physical health. Our licensed physical therapists develop individual personal treatment plans.
What Can Geriatric Physical Therapy Help With?
Synergy can help decrease the impact of many limitations and impairments related to aging. Physical therapy interventions can help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and mobility.
These ways physical therapy can help aging adults:
- Improved Mobility: Our mobility and balance are affected. Physical therapy for seniors improves balance, coordination, and gait training. Decreasing the risk of falls.
- Pain Reduction: Chronic pain from either osteoporosis or arthritis. Physical therapy for seniors reduces pain through manual therapy techniques and targeted exercises.
- Fall Prevention: Falls lead to hospitalization, disability, and reduced quality of life. Physical therapy for seniors minimizes fall risk through home safety and balance training education.
- Individual Independence Increased: In reducing pain, preventing falls, and improving overall quality of life, mobility, older adults can maintain their independence.
What Treatments Are Available in Physical Therapy for Older Adults?
The treatments available in physical therapy for older adults are like those for the young.
These are treatments available in geriatric physical therapy:
- Manual Therapy: A hands-on treatment of the joints and soft tissues to improve the patient’s pain and range of motion, reduction of pain, and promotion of healing.
- Therapeutic Exercise: These are exercises targeted to improve balance, flexibility, and strength. Focuses on the maintenance of mobility and prevention of falls.
- Gait Training: Proper walking and standing techniques are taught to reduce fall risk and improve mobility.
- Balance and Coordination Training: Exercises focusing on improving coordination and balance.
- Assistive Devices: Helps older adults properly use canes, braces, and walkers.
- Education on Home Safety: Recommendations on how to make the home safe for seniors, such as removing throw rugs and installing grab bars.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy methods and techniques to produce changes consistent with the diagnosis, prognosis, and the patient or client’s goals.
Why Choose Synergy for Treatment for Geriatric Physical Therapy?
At Synergy Physical Therapy and Wellness, we aim to help you get back on track with your daily activities and improve your quality of life. We do this by focusing on the areas that are most important to you: mobility and balance, strength and endurance, coordination, balance, and stability.
We believe everyone deserves to age with dignity and independence in their homes. That’s why we offer a wide range of services, including geriatric physical therapy and orthopedic care, at affordable prices. Contact us at (440) 260-7670 to book your appointment.
