Sitka Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”
This isn’t an unusual conversation starter at Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka from our Sitka chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is vital to prevent falls and associated problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka presents some news about fall prevention and balance improvement 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 boost the risk for falling and other health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who did not experience any issues with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t 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 was associated with an 84% higher risk of dying within in the study time (12 years). This observational study didn’t state cause/effect but suggested a connection, a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka recommends standing near to a counter to stabilize yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep practicing. You’ll improve as you practice! (2) Once you add a few seconds, you’ll want to do more! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A study compared how known “fallers,” “nonfallers,” and young volunteers performed on a force plate gauging test for postural sway. None were different in transfer of weight. Younger volunteers 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 made 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 Sitka chiropractor in determining baseline balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly published paper noted the benefit 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 measured on a force plate. (4) That is so good! Between our in-office chiropractic treatments with Cox® Technic in the office and your practicing standing on one foot then the other at home, we will realize how well we can improve your balance!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 Sitka chiropractic appointment soon. We look forward to seeing how much steadier you feel!
