Fernandina Beach Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I used to be.”
This is not an uncommon conversation starter at Amelia Chiropractic Clinic from our Fernandina Beach chiropractic patients and/or their loved ones. Balance is important to prevent falls and related problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Amelia Chiropractic Clinic presents some news about fall prevention and balance enhancement 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 increase the risk for falling and other health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who did not have any issues with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t do a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test was related to an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study period (12 yrs). This observational study did not state cause/effect but suggested a connection, a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Amelia Chiropractic Clinic recommends standing next a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep practicing. You’ll improve as you practice! (2) Once you see some improvement, you will keep practicing! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A research project 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 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 determined the “fallers” better – 100% - than other commonly used tests 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 Fernandina Beach 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 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 Amelia Chiropractic Clinic
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 Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment today. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you are!
