Baton Rouge Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”
This is not an uncommon conversation starter at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers from our Baton Rouge chiropractic patients and/or their loved ones. Balance is important to prevent falls and related problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers presents some news about fall prevention and balance improvement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes particularly in relation to balance. Such changes in balance also boost the risk for falling and other health concerns. A study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who did not have any issues with walking found that 20.4% could not do a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended to intensify the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study time (12 years). This observational study didn’t state cause/effect but suggested a link, a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers recommends standing near to a counter to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep practicing. You’ll improve over time! (2) Once you see some improvement, you’ll keep practicing! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A study compared how known “fallers,” “nonfallers,” and young volunteers did on a force plate gauging test for postural sway. None differed in weight transfer. 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 made one-leg-stance test established who the “fallers” were 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 Baton Rouge chiropractor in evaluating baseline balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly published paper described 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 decreasing 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 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 Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
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 Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment soon. We look forward to hearing how much steadier you feel!
