Move Better, Live Better: How Physiotherapy Can Help You Take Charge of Aging

One of the best parts of my work as a physiotherapist is when a senior client returns to the clinic beaming because they’ve regained the ability to do something they love.  When I meet my clients for the first time, they often tell me that they have had to stop certain activities due to their age.  They are also often skeptical that by doing some work with me, they may be able to get back to doing those very things.

In my experience, seniors are quite accustomed to seeking physiotherapy when it comes to post-surgical rehabilitation (ie: knee replacement) or after severe injury.  However, I find that the power of physiotherapy support in taking a proactive approach to healthy aging is underestimated and underutilized.

There is an immense amount of research supporting the benefits of working on strength, balance and mobility to maintain maximum independence and comfort as we age.  However, it’s not always as simple as just starting an exercise program as seniors often have chronic health conditions that require consideration when getting started. This is where physiotherapists can really help!

Here are my top 3 ways that healthy seniors can benefit from physiotherapy before they feel like they need it!

Managing Strength Loss

Adults over the age of 50 can lose 15% or more of their muscle strength each decade; and, it typically speeds up with each decade.  This can have a huge impact on their ability to comfortably get through their daily activities.  Groceries feel heavier, stairs seem steeper and everything starts feeling harder.

This gradual loss of independence due to strength loss is not an inevitable part of aging for most seniors; active participation in a functional strengthening program to ensure muscles are maintaining as much strength as possible is critical.  Many seniors have health conditions that will determine which exercises are safe and which should be avoided.  Physiotherapists are well-positioned to assess a senior’s abilities and determine which strengthening exercises are safe and appropriate.

Regaining Confidence with Balance

One in three adults over the age of 65 falls every year.  Many of these falls result in serious injuries.  There is no question, physiotherapy can help with the management of those injuries but the ideal situation would be to avoid the fall in the first place.

As a result, the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines suggest that all adults over the age of 65 engage in regular balance exercises.  A physiotherapist can assess a senior’s gait (walking pattern), strength, static and dynamic balance to determine what would benefit them most from a fall risk reduction standpoint.  The exact exercises that will be most appropriate are individual to the person doing the work based on their health history and lifestyle.

Regaining confidence with balance is not just important for falls risk reduction but also to help seniors feel comfortable saying ‘yes’ to outings with family and friends

Loosening Up

My senior clients regularly tell me how much flexibility they feel they have lost.  This is not necessarily associated with an injury but reaching the top shelf has become more difficult and picking something up off the floor is near impossible.  This slow change in muscle and joint flexibility can not only create functional challenges throughout the day but can also set seniors up for the development of injuries like rotator cuff injury in the shoulders or chronic lower back pain.

When it comes to flexibility, I strongly believe the “use it or lose it” principle comes into effect.  Some of my most mobile clients in their 80s have a regular routine of gentle movements that they have done for decades.  The regular practice of simply using the movements you want to preserve really does seem to work.  However, again, depending on health conditions (ie: osteoporosis), there may be some movements that aren’t advisable. Again, this is where a consult with a physiotherapist is a great way to learn what will likely be safe and effective.

We feel so strongly about this concept at Zoomers, that we created an assessment called the Fit For Life Assessment.  It is an opportunity to meet with a physiotherapist to discuss current activities, planned activities and what’s getting in the way.  The physiotherapist then does a physical screening for strength, balance and mobility issues and finishes by developing a plan to address any issues identified.

Think of it like a regular eye or dental check-up but for movement.  Seniors shouldn’t let age dictate their limits; learning to move better can mean living better, and isn’t that what it’s all about?