How does regular Physiotherapy at Assisted living facilities help Elderly Persons live an Active Physical and Mental life? Aging comes with its promises and challenges. The body undergoes many physical and mental changes that call for sufficient care. The weakening of the body due to old age causes deterioration of muscular strength, balancing and coordination, bone health and even makes the body stiffer and less mobile due to joint pain. Old age also makes seniors more prone to injuries, fractures and falls. To overcome this problem, regular exercise plays a crucial role in restoring the body’s functionalities to remain independent. This is where physiotherapy for seniors comes into play.
Physiotherapy is a boon for elders as they may not be able to exercise independently due to their fragile bodies and stiffened joints. It not only protects physical health but also safeguards mental health by preventing cognitive decline. So, senior care facilities like assisted living homes and homebased healthcare services have physiotherapists who help elders to be physically active and fit. Athulya Assisted Living, a luxurious and affordable assisted living facility in Chennai, is a perfect example to substantiate this point. Besides furnishing state-of-art amenities in its aesthetic living spaces, Athulya Assisted Living also conducts fitness and mental wellness programs including yoga and meditation for its elderly residents. Another speciality of this facility is that it provides skilled nursing care and excellent rehabilitation care for seniors recovering from surgery, injury and illnesses like stroke through holistic care approaches including physiotherapy by trained geriatric professionals.
Some Common Types of Exercises for Physiotherapy • • • • •
Exercises for bone health include weight-bearing and resistance exercises like walking, jogging, hiking, climbing stairs, dancing, playing sports like tennis and lifting weights. Breathing exercises like pursed-lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, alternate nostril breathing, equal breathing and resonant breathing. Spine-friendly exercises that involve routine activities like cleaning the home and gardening, low impact aerobics, swimming, stretching and special exercises like Tai Chi and yoga. Exercises for healthy mind include simple games like cards, jigsaw puzzles, music, dance, vocabulary building or learning new skills. Functional exercises are specific exercises used to practice certain routine movements that become difficult after suffering from an injury or trauma.
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Balance and movement exercises promote better nervous and muscular health, flexibility and stability to prevent falls so that elders can comfortably do exercises without knee pain and other discomforts.
Benefits of Regular Physiotherapy at Assisted Living Facilities to Elders • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Helps to tackle various musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative and cardiopulmonary disorders Aids in better pain management for dealing with conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis Improves overall quality of life by restoring functionalities and reducing discomfort Enhances balancing and coordination, physical strength, control of motor functions, flexibility and endurance Protects memory and boosts cognitive skills Plays a significant role in the prevention of falls and injuries Boosts self-esteem and elevates moods Promotes the ability to carry on daily living activities independently Raises immunity levels and reduces the impact of diseases especially infections Decreases the risk of heart disease Safeguards the cardio-respiratory functions Acts as a means of attaining coordination with the various body functions Prevents high blood pressure, obesity and disorders like loss of strength and balance Avoids postural instability and balance impairments to facilitate greater mobility
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Physiotherapy •
What are the components of a physiotherapy program? Usually, a physiotherapy program is tailor-made to the needs of the individual and includes exercises for strengthening, balancing, range of motion and walking.
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What are the common orthopaedic conditions in the elderly that necessitate the intervention of physiotherapy? Elders are likely to experience orthopaedic problems due to stress, strain, ligament tear, damage of joints and muscle stiffness. Common orthopaedic conditions include osteoarthritis, dislocation of bones, fractures, pain in the neck, spine and shoulder and osteoporosis.
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Can you name some of the geriatric conditions for which physiotherapy is particularly beneficial? Physiotherapy is known and proven to successfully manage a broad spectrum of geriatric conditions including joint stiffness, inflexible ligaments, restricted body movement, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease.
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How do physiotherapists help elders in maintaining their overall health? Physiotherapists provide personalized exercise programs that help to alleviate pain, enhance joint movement, promote better respiratory capabilities and improve coordination for movement. That helps in reducing the overall impact of chronic health problems.
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Apart from exercises and workouts, what are the other techniques used by physiotherapy for pain management? Physiotherapy used various forms of electric modalities like LASER, Ultrasound, Shockwave Therapy and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS).
Certainly, physiotherapy promotes a healthy retired life for elders through its customized and professional exercise programs. Please get in touch with Athulya Assisted Living to explore further.