Baton Rouge Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !

“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”

This isn’t an uncommon conversation starter at Spine & Sports Rehab Center from our Baton Rouge chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is important to avert falls and related problems that may come with a fall…like breaking something! Spine & Sports Rehab Center presents some news regarding fall prevention and balance improvement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.

BALANCE AND AGING

The 50s bring some noticeable changes especially in terms of 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 didn't have any problems with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t do a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended to intensify the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Not being able to do the 10 second balance test was related to 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 encourage middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Spine & Sports Rehab Center recommends standing next a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep practicing. you will improve over time! (2) Once you add a few seconds, you will 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 measuring 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 established who the “fallers” were 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 beneficial to your Baton Rouge chiropractor in determining baseline balance.

ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL

A newly published paper noted 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 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 Spine & Sports Rehab Center

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes 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 better balanced you are!

 
Spine & Sports Rehab Center shares recent research that describes how those who can balance on one leg for 10 seconds at a time have a lesser risk of death.  
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"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."