Plainville Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”
This isn’t an unusual conversation starter at Layden Chiropractic from our Plainville chiropractic patients and/or their loved ones. Balance is vital to prevent falls and associated problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Layden Chiropractic presents some news regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes particularly in terms of balance. Such changes in balance also boost the risk for falling and other health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who had no problems with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended to intensify the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Not being able to do the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study period (12 yrs). This observational study didn’t declare cause/effect but suggested a connection, a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Layden Chiropractic urges standing near to a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep working on it. You’ll do better as you practice! (2) Once you see some improvement, 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 gauging test for postural sway. None differed in transfer of weight. Younger ones decreased 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 quite helpful to your Plainville chiropractor in evaluating baseline balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A recently published paper noted the usefulness of (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation for lumbar spinal stenosis patients by enhancing their balance test scores - Timed Up and Go and Five Times Sit to Stand Test – and reducing postural sway and entropy (forward/backward movement) as assessed on a force plate. (4) That is so good! Between our in-office chiropractic treatments with Cox® Technic during office visits and in exercise sessions of practicing standing on one foot then the other at home, we will realize how well we can improve your balance!
CONTACT Layden Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates relieving chiropractic care and re-establishing balance via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for patients with spinal stenosis.
Schedule your Plainville chiropractic appointment now. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you feel!
