Largo Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”
This isn’t an uncommon conversation starter at Hollstrom & Associates Inc from our Largo chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is key to prevent falls and related problems that may come with a fall…like breaking something! Hollstrom & Associates Inc presents some news about fall prevention and balance improvement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some hard to ignore changes particularly in terms of balance. Such changes in balance also increase the risk for falling and other health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years old who had no issues with walking found that 20.4% could not do a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study period (12 years). This observational study did not declare cause/effect but proposed a link, a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Hollstrom & Associates Inc urges standing next a counter to stabilize yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep practicing. you will do better over time! (2) Once you add a few seconds, you’ll keep practicing! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A research project compared how known “fallers,” “nonfallers,” and young volunteers did on a force plate measuring test for postural sway. None were different in transfer of weight. Younger ones reduced postural sway within 2 seconds while older ones never did and swayed the same the whole time. Older “fallers” swayed significantly more. This specially designed one-leg-stance test determined the “fallers” better – 100% - than other more common ways to measure balance – five-times-sit-to-stand (69%), timed-up-and-go (48%), usual one-leg-stance without special parameters as in this research study (62%). (3) Tests like these are beneficial to your Largo chiropractor in determining baseline balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly published paper noted the usefulness of (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation for lumbar spinal stenosis patients by improving their balance test scores - Timed Up and Go and Five Times Sit to Stand Test – and decreasing postural sway and entropy (forward/backward movement) as determined on a force plate. (4) That is so good! Between our in-office chiropractic treatments with Cox® Technic in the office and your practicing standing on one foot then the other at home, we will see how well we can improve your balance!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes relieving chiropractic care and re-establishing balance via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for patients with spinal stenosis.
Make your Largo chiropractic appointment today. We look forward to seeing how much steadier you feel!
