We can't stop time. Or can we? The right type and amount of
physical activity can help stave off many age-related health problems. Physical
Therapists, who are movement experts, prescribe physical activity that can help
you overcome pain, gain and maintain movement, and preserve your
independence—often helping you avoid the need for surgery or long-term use of
prescription drugs.
1.
Chronic
pain doesn't have to be the boss of you.
Each year 116 million Americans experience chronic pain from
arthritis or other conditions, costing billions of dollars in medical
treatment, lost work time, and lost wages. Proper exercise, mobility, and pain
management techniques can ease pain while moving and at rest, improving your
overall quality of life.
2.
You
can get stronger when you're older.
Research shows that improvements in strength and physical function
are possible in your 60s, 70s, and even 80s and older with an appropriate
exercise program. Progressive resistance training, in which muscles are
exercised against resistance that gets more difficult as strength improves, has
been shown to prevent frailty.
3. You may
not need surgery or drugs for low back pain.
Low back pain is often over-treated with surgery and drugs despite
a wealth of scientific evidence demonstrating that physical therapy can be an
effective alternative—and with much less risk than surgery and long-term use of
prescription medications.
4. You can
lower your risk of diabetes with exercise.
One in four Americans over the age of 60 has diabetes. Obesity and
physical inactivity can put you at risk for this disease. But a regular,
appropriate physical activity routine is one of the best ways to prevent—and
manage—type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
5. Exercise
can help you avoid falls—and keep your independence
About one in three U.S. adults age 65 or older falls each year.
More than half of adults over 65 report problems with movement, including
walking 1/4 mile, stooping and standing. Group-based exercises led by a
physical therapist can improve movement and balance and reduce your risk of
falls. It can also reduce your risk of hip fractures (95 percent of which are
caused by falls).
6. Your
bones want you to exercise.
Osteoporosis or weak bones affects more than half of Americans
over the age of 54. Exercises that keep you on your feet, like walking,
jogging, or dancing, and exercises using resistance, such as weightlifting, can
improve bone strength or reduce bone loss.
7. Your
heart wants you to exercise.
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the US. One of the
top ways of preventing it and other cardiovascular diseases? Exercise! Research
shows that if you already have heart disease, appropriate exercise can improve
your health.
8. Your
brain wants you to exercise.
People who are physically active—even later in life—are less
likely to develop memory problems or Alzheimer's disease, a condition which
affects more than 40% of people over the age of 85.
9. You don't
"just have to live with" bladder leakage.
More than 13 million women and men in the US have bladder leakage.
Don't spend years relying on pads or rushing to the bathroom. Seek help from a
physical Therapist.
visit: http://www.caringhandsphysio.com/
