Aging Gracefully | Maintaining Independence With Geriatric Physiotherapy

 Aging is a natural part of life that brings with it numerous changes, including a decline in Physical health and mobility. However, it doesn't mean that one must surrender their independence. Geriatric physiotherapy, a specialized branch of physiotherapy, plays a vital role in helping older adults maintain their independence, improve their quality of life, and age gracefully. With tailored exercises, pain management techniques, and preventive care, geriatric physiotherapy empowers seniors to lead fulfilling lives while staying active and independent. In this blog, we will explore the importance of geriatric physiotherapy and how it can support older adults in maintaining their physical well-being and independence.

Understanding Geriatric Physiotherapy:
Geriatric physiotherapy focuses on addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by older adults. It encompasses a comprehensive approach to care, combining exercise therapy, manual techniques, and education to promote optimal physical functioning and mobility. Geriatric physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat age-related conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, stroke, balance disorders, and joint replacements.

Enhancing Mobility and Functional Independence:
Maintaining mobility is crucial for older adults to carry out daily activities independently. Geriatric physiotherapy employs exercises and interventions that improve strength, flexibility, and balance. By targeting specific muscle groups, physiotherapists help seniors regain and enhance their mobility, enabling them to perform tasks such as walking, climbing stairs, and getting in and out of chairs with ease. Moreover, specialized programs focus on fall prevention, which is crucial for reducing the risk of fractures and maintaining overall independence.

Managing Pain and Chronic Conditions:
Chronic pain is a common issue among older adults, affecting their quality of life and limiting their activities. Geriatric physiotherapy employs various techniques to manage pain effectively, such as manual therapy, heat or cold therapy, electrotherapy, and therapeutic exercises. These interventions alleviate pain, improve joint mobility, and reduce inflammation. Physiotherapists work closely with seniors to develop personalized pain management plans that enable them to engage in daily activities with reduced discomfort.

Promoting Cognitive and Mental Well-being:
Physical health and mental well-being are interconnected. Geriatric physiotherapy recognizes the importance of cognitive stimulation and emotional support for older adults. Therapeutic exercises and activities designed to enhance cognitive function, memory, and attention are incorporated into treatment plans. Additionally, regular interaction with physiotherapists can combat feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety, providing seniors with a sense of purpose and social connection.

Preventive Care and Long-Term Independence:
Geriatric physiotherapy emphasizes preventive care to ensure long-term independence and overall well-being. Physiotherapists assess seniors' homes for potential hazards and provide recommendations for modifications to create a safe living environment. They also educate older adults and their caregivers on proper body mechanics, fall prevention strategies, and exercises that can be performed independently. By taking a proactive approach, geriatric physiotherapy helps older adults prevent injuries, maintain their physical abilities, and live independently for longer.

Geriatric physiotherapy is a valuable resource for older adults seeking to age gracefully and maintain their independence. By addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by seniors, physiotherapists play a pivotal role in enhancing mobility, managing pain, promoting cognitive well-being, and providing preventive care. Through personalized treatment plans, seniors can regain their strength, flexibility, and balance, enabling them to carry out daily activities with confidence and ease.

 10 Benefits of Physiotherapy for Geriatric                                    People

As we grow old, our body undergoes many physical as well as mental changes. These changes include a decrease in bone density, reduced muscle strength, and increased body fat. Elderly individuals may also experience poor coordination and stiff joints that affect their mobility and balance, making them more likely to fall. These deficiencies can have a big impact on their daily lives and independence. To reduce this impact, one should consult a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist helps geriatric individuals to maintain their health, well-being, functional ability, and independence. Physiotherapy treatment techniques are well-suited for the challenges that accompany aging. In this blog, we have discussed various factors that prevent people from being active and independent, and also find ways of overcoming them. 

 

Benefits of Physiotherapy

The physiotherapist starts by carrying out a detailed assessment to determine the specific areas that may be having an impact. This assessment would typically include looking at the strength, range of movement, balance, and walking. The physiotherapist then uses this information to address the areas that are deficient and designs a tailor-made program.

These include treating diagnosed age-related illnesses, as well as the general annoyances experienced as we age. Here's how physiotherapy can help to improve the overall health of elderly patients.

 

Decreases Pain Level:

The physiotherapist can treat illnesses, such as pain, joint problems, and stiffness and adopt a delicate and sensitive approach during physiotherapy. Pain is decreased by using different electrical modalities like cryotherapy (ice packs are used for 15-to-20-minute sessions), and thermotherapy (which relaxes the muscles, improves circulation and loosens stiff joints. Transcutaneous electrical stimulations, Ultrasound, and laser therapy are also used by physiotherapists to alleviate pain, and muscle spasms and relax the muscles.

 

Improves Mobility and Strength:

Physiotherapists can provide advice on how to safely exercise so that older people can realize the benefits of exercising. The hands-on technique of physiotherapy allows therapists to customize each treatment, for example, regarding the amount of pressure applied. Massage is given for relaxation, improving circulation, and pain relief, it can also include mobilization (i.e. helps loosen tight joints, and increases flexibility), manipulation (fast, forceful movements used to relieve pain and realign bones and joints). Studies have shown that older adults who engage in regular physical activity gain many benefits like preventing joint, reducing high blood pressure, and obesity. Daily exercises and practicing activities like back or side leg raises, wall sits, regular calf stretch, marching in place, wrapping up, wiggling hands and fingers, rocking the boat, and walking heel to toe are proven to be effective for older people, these exercises include strengthening and stretching exercise programs and balance training.

 

Treating Musculoskeletal Conditions:

Medical conditions like osteoporosis, arthritis, fractures, and joint replacement, are commonly associated with old age. The physiotherapist can help restore mobility, and fitness by restoring the function of muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.

 

Treating Cardiopulmonary Conditions:

Cardiopulmonary conditions associated with the elderly are heart attack, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), etc. The conditions can be treated and prevented by physiotherapy by increasing endurance and functional independence.

 

Treating Neurological Conditions:

Neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, brain injury, or stroke are common in elderly people. Through physiotherapy, these patients are taught to adapt to impairments in vision, mobility, balance, and muscle loss so that the patient completes the activities of daily living more easily.

 

Prevents Falls:

A safe and supportive environment like handrails near stairs, non-slippery floors, and spacious areas without hurdles, more light near stairs, coloring the steps with alternating color patterns can prevent falls. Walking aids are also provided for people with foot drop, spinal injury, stroke, and other health issues which hinder mobility. These aids make them as quick and steady on their feet as they used to be and improve their ability to be independent. Environmental adaptations have to incorporate the principles of work simplification and safety, e.g., toilet signs on washroom doors, putting the cup sign on the cupboard, replacing the buttons of dresses with velcro fasteners for activities of daily living independence. For elderly who require support for walking are also provided with types of equipment such as walking aids to facilitate independent living.

 

Better Mental and Emotional health:

Exercises have also been shown to improve the mental and emotional health of elderly individuals. Physiotherapy aims to improve the overall well-being of each person being treated. Issues like social difficulties sleep problems and even just the challenges of day-to-day life can be lessened through physiotherapy services. During the assessment, the physiotherapist needs to understand the cognitive impairment (memory, attention, learning, concentration, language, thinking, the cause of dementia, and depression. Functional training is given where the activity is broken down into simple components, repetition along with kinaesthetic cueing is an effective technique for teaching proper functional movement patterns. For the elderly having dementia, sensory stimulation has improved their quality of life as they are able to interact with other people in a meaningful way. Stimulations like activity by giving cues occasionally (e.g. Does this picture remind you of something? Does this surface feel smooth or rough), is provided to enhance independence and self-esteem. For depression, the individual is advised to spend at least one hour outdoors every day, like sitting in a park or going for a walk where the person gets to interact with other people which helps to improve mental health.

 

Less dependence on medication:

Older people are more susceptible to illnesses like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, arthritis, etc. Physiotherapy is a great alternative to harsh medications, especially for older adults suffering from digestive or immune system intolerance or serious side effects. Even for incontinence Kegel exercises are ideal to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

 

Prevents Obesity:

Obesity is one of the main risk factors for the elderly, doing exercises daily helps with weight control and also reduces the risk of suffering from various conditions related to obesity.

 

Improves quality of Life:

Physiotherapy includes specialized techniques that can improve the quality of life of older individuals. Exercises are taught that increase mobility and flexibility, and when done regularly, boost overall health levels and reduce the effects of aging on the body. It helps lower the risks of a fall or the damage caused by one.

 

Therefore, physiotherapist provides professional services combined with a healing touch and promotes comfort and care for elderly patients, this has an impact on the patient's physical recovery as well as also has a positive influence on their emotional wellbeing.


This Article was first Published at CB Physiotherapy

 

Role of Physiotherapy in Geriatric People | Physiotherapist for Elderly care

Aging or getting old makes our body go through many physical changes. These changes usually cause a decrease in muscle strength, bone density, body coordination, and even make the joints stiffer, which sometimes can lead to falls and fractures. For elderly citizens, exercising may be the key for bringing back and sustaining the physical function required in daily living. Exercise programs set by a physiotherapist can help in reducing body pain, enhancing the movement of joints, facilitating coordination, and boosting respiratory function.  Elderly people suffering from chronic diseases can also obtain benefits from physiotherapy. Though physiotherapy cannot stop the process of aging it can help to reduce the impact that it has on our bodies. Physiotherapists are trained professionals who can identify the factors that prevent elderly people from being active and independent. Exercising on regular basis can also help to reduce the risk and impact of illnesses that are more likely to affect older people. In this blog, we will discuss the various conditions suffered by elderly people who require physiotherapy.

 

Conditions treated by Geriatric Physiotherapists

• Geriatric conditions are susceptible to various illnesses usually including musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary problems, mental illness, balance problems, and chronic pain. Physiotherapy treatment has been successful in managing each of these ailments.

 

Pain from chronic conditions:

• Physiotherapy can help to decrease discomfort due to conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis. Usually, joint pain is caused by inflammation of the joints, injuries, arthritis, gout, etc. It can restrict mobility and lead to weakness or instability to perform normal activities if left untreated for a longer time. The goal of the physiotherapist is to restore the function of the muscles, bones, joints, tendons, and ligaments.

 

Improve strength and flexibility:

• Due to aging decreased strength and flexibility is one of the most common issues that almost every individual faces. Further, the condition can be worsened by the presence of other chronic conditions related to neurological issues, endocrine problems, and musculoskeletal issues. As a result of degenerative changes that occur due to old age, there is poor muscle tone and stiff joints, etc. A physiotherapist helps to alleviate pain and helps return to mobility. Some of the common causes of decreased strength are thyroid disease, anemia, and depression, lack of sleep, diabetes, congestive heart failure, and medication side effects. Physiotherapy helps to bring back strength and flexibility, and also improves patients' quality of life.

 

Postural Instability and Balance Impairment:

• Balance impairment in the elderly is due to the loss of normal functioning of muscles and bones. It is most commonly caused due to arthritis and numbness in feet and legs, eye problems, blood circulation problems, and intake of multiple medicines. Physiotherapy treatment includes balance exercises to help improve the function of muscles & bones in individuals having neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, ALS, Parkinson's disease, or suffered a brain injury.

 

Risk of injury:

• Physical therapy helps to maintain stability. The physiotherapist teaches the patient to adapt to visual, mobility, balance, and muscle loss impairments to easily complete the activities of daily living. This awareness helps to reduce the risk of injuries and re-injury. Patients who have had a heart attack, or have other cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can benefit from physiotherapy by following a treatment regime that helps them to increase endurance and gain functional independence.

 

Prevention of risk of a fall:

• Falls are the leading cause of accidents among aged individuals, resulting in bone fractures and other injuries. A physiotherapist can train the individual in techniques to prevent a fall.

 

Maintaining an independent lifestyle:

• Recovery from pain due to an illness or injury allows the individual to lead an active and independent life for a longer period of time. Stretching and strengthening exercises are proven to be effective for older people. Patients with foot drop, spinal injury, and stroke are provided with walking aids to facilitate independent living. The therapist works with the patient to ensure that he/she can remain as independent as possible.

 

Physiotherapy treatment:

Physiotherapist aims to help and address the areas which require treatment. The therapist uses his/ her information to design a tailor-made program. The program includes strengthening exercises, range of movement (ROM), balance, and walking exercises.

• Physiotherapy includes exercises, workouts, and the use of electric modalities such as Ultrasound, TENS, Shockwave therapy, Laser, etc
• Muscle-strengthening exercises are done twice a week, one of the best treatments for osteoarthritis and bone health.
• Moderate intensity activity like brisk walking is recommended.
• Strengthening exercises for muscles can be done against resistance, by using stretchy bands.
• Combination of moderate cardio, endurance, and balance exercises.

Benefits:

• Physiotherapy is vital for restoring functionality, reducing pain, and thus improving quality of life.
• Regular exercises result in improved balance, strength, coordination, motor control, flexibility, endurance, and even memory.
• Helps to maintain cognitive function.
• Reduces the risk of heart disease.
• Helps to maintain the ability to carry out activities of daily living.
• Improves mood and self-esteem.
• Reduces the risk of falls.
• Helps to reduce the impact of illnesses that are more likely to affect older people.
• Treats and prevents joint problems, balance disorders, risk of falls, strength decline and reduces high blood pressure and obesity.
• Physiotherapy is proved to be beneficial for old people suffering from conditions like stiff joints, unbendable ligaments, and overall body movement. Parkinson's disease, arthritis, and neurological problems.
• The therapy helps maintain mobility and independence.
• The therapy is a means of attaining coordination within the body systems.
• It also improves cardio-respiratory functions.

Physiotherapists can provide advice on how the exercises can be done safely and also strongly recommends exercises for elderly patients as a part of a daily routine. While following the exercise regime elderly people are not limited to uncomfortable living conditions or insufficient physical activities. This unique therapy is a proven methodology for elderly parents to engage in exercises for as long as their health will allow it.