They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that’s especially true when it comes to our health. Taking a little proactive action now to stave off potentially problematic health issues in the future can ensure we remain healthy for years to come. And while not all health conditions are completely preventable, the risk of developing some of the most common issues that plague older adults can certainly be lowered with a little foresight.
That foresight can come in many forms, be it weight management, increased exercise or by connecting with a physical therapist. In today’s blog, we explore five future health issues that can be prevented by working with a physical therapist.
Arthritis
Arthritis affects hundreds of millions of people around the globe, and while it is commonly viewed as a degenerative condition that comes for us all, that’s simply not true. Protecting and strengthening your joints in your youth can go a long way in preventing or staving off the onset of uncomfortable arthritis in our golden years. A physical therapist can help you ward off problems associated with arthritis by:
- Strengthening joints and supportive muscle groups.
- Helping you work towards a healthy weight, in turn taking stress off the joints.
- Improving your posture, gait and other biomechanics to ensure stress is dispersed correctly on your joints as you move.
- Helping you develop a no impact or low impact exercise program that develops and protects the joints and surrounding tissues.
- Improving flexibility and range of motion so that any symptoms associated with the condition are less noticeable.
Falls
Falls are a leading cause of hospitalization among individuals over the age of 65. If your balance isn’t what it used to be, or you’re dealing with an underlying condition like a degenerative joint, unstable ankle or the effects of a stroke, let our physical therapy team set you up with an individualized balance training program. We’re confident that we can identify your deficits, develop a targeted strength training program and see you become a more capable and independent version of yourself through only a few weeks of physical therapy exercises.
Cognitive Decline
Many people don’t associate a physical therapy team as a resource for individuals working to prevent or overcome age-related cognitive challenges, but we help this patient group every single day. We can help by developing a relaxation-based therapy program that sees you find healthy ways to manage stress that can negatively impact mental performance, or we can help you overcome both physical and mental hurdles caused by issues like Parkinson’s or dementia. Oftentimes the physical and mental components of age-related cognitive changes are intertwined, and we can help you overcome all of these connected challenges.
Drop In Athletic Performance
Although athletes like Lebron James and Tom Brady seemingly defied the odds as they aged, the fact of the matter is most athletes can expect some performance decline as they get older. However, we can help delay or slow the progression of this performance dip with the help of a targeted sport-specific training program. Whether you’re a runner, a Pickleball player, an avid golfer or you play in a recreational hockey league, we can develop a PT program designed to account for sport-specific motion so that you can remain competitive while others your age see a dip in performance. Stand out from the crowd with the help of a sport-specific PT program.
Overall Independence
Finally, you can work to maintain your independence and quality of life by connecting with a dedicated team of physical therapists. We know how important it is for you to remain in your home and be comfortable in your daily pursuits, and we can tailor a PT program to your individual strengths and deficits. If certain daily actions like cooking, cleaning, getting dressed or moving around the house are becoming more difficult, don’t just shy away from these activities. Instead, overcome these challenges and remain capable and independent with the assistance of a personalized PT program.
For more information about any aspect of these PT programs, or to set up your first appointment, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
