“I’m just not as steady as I used to be.”
This is not an unusual conversation
starter at Chiropractic Care from our West Palm Beach chiropractic patients
and/or their family members. Balance is
vital to prevent falls and
related problems that may come with a fall…like
breaking something! Chiropractic Care offers some news
regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement
with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes
especially in relation to balance. Such
changes in balance also increase the risk for falling and other
health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
old who had no issues with walking found that 20.4% could
not do a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended
to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Not being
able to do the 10 second balance test had an 84% greater risk of dying within in the
study time (12 yrs). This observational study did
not state cause/effect but proposed a connection,
a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Chiropractic Care
recommends standing near to a counter
to stabilize yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep working on it.
You’ll improve over time!
(2) Once you add a few seconds, you will
want to do more! 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 measuring
test for postural sway. None were different in weight transfer. Younger volunteers reduced
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 commonly used 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 beneficial to your
West Palm Beach chiropractor in evaluating baseline
balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A recently published paper described
the usefulness of (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation
for lumbar spinal stenosis patients by improving 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 see how well we can improve
your balance!
CONTACT Chiropractic Care
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.
Make your West Palm Beach chiropractic
appointment today. We look forward to hearing how
much steadier you are!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."