Benefits of Physiotherapy for Seniors
The benefits of physiotherapy for seniors are many. Restoring or maintaining movement and balance, recuperating after surgery, and decreasing or managing pain. Physiotherapy can help seniors stay healthy and capable of living at home longer, and independently. For the convenience of seniors living at home, Retire-At-Home Services Toronto offers in-home physiotherapy to help restore or maintain good health.
Benefits of physiotherapy for seniors: Maintaining independence
The benefits of physiotherapy for seniors include restoring and maintaining mobility, balance, and a level of physical activity. Physiotherapy may be the secret to sustaining a completely independent lifestyle at home. Research indicates that the ability to maintain physical function also improves overall health by enhancing psychological and social well-being. The longer individuals maintain a physically active lifestyle, the longer they enjoy a healthy life of independence.
As a senior home health care company in Toronto, lack of mobility is one of the biggest reasons why we are called into a home to help a senior. Getting out to buy groceries, walking up and down stairs to the laundry, cleaning the house, getting into and out of the shower; these activities require physical movement that becomes challenging with age. In many cases, physiotherapy can help increase capability to do these movements, or maintain current ability to prevent decline.
Benefits of physiotherapy for seniors: Recuperation from fractures
Besides maintaining the physical abilities of healthy, but inactive patients, other uses of physiotherapy for the elderly include recuperation from fractures. After hospitalization for a fracture or because of illness, physical therapy gradually helps patients regain the physical strength and mobility enjoyed prior to the event. By learning exercises and techniques to remain mobile and maintain balance, therapists safeguard patients from future accidents and falls.
Benefits of physiotherapy for seniors: Strength Building and Stabilization
Another common reason why seniors have physiotherapy is that they feel they are unstable or not strong enough. Fear of falling is a major reason why seniors stop exercising and doing anything physical that seems to pose a risk. But the best way to get stronger and reduce the risk of a fall is to build strength. Physiotherapy can help to increase strength in a controlled environment so that the patient can get out and enjoy life without fear.
Benefits of physiotherapy for seniors: Pre and Post-Surgery
With pre and post-surgical physiotherapy, patients can decrease the amount of time that they are uncomfortable and incapacitated. Physiotherapy before surgery helps to ensure that the body is healthy and prepared for the surgery. Circulation is stimulated and the cells and tissues get the nutrients and oxygen that they need to be healthy. After surgery, when the patient is recovering and needs to regain strength, physiotherapy is the perfect way to slowly increase activity and gain strength again.
Benefits of physiotherapy for seniors: Treatment of Pain
There are many types of pain that can be relieved and reduced with professional physiotherapy for seniors. Neck and back pain, as well as many other types of pain, are often caused by poor circulation, stiffness, and insufficient physical activity. Because physiotherapy is safe and controlled, it can be the perfect way for seniors to increase their physical activity again and improve circulation. The result is often reduced pain as well as increased comfort and energy.
Many seniors get physiotherapy to help reduce the pain caused by arthritis. Arthritis in the knees, hips, and other joints can be very painful. The more pain a patient experiences, the less likely they are to move and get exercise, which only makes the problem worse. Physiotherapy for seniors can increase circulation and help to reduce the pain and the causes of the pain of arthritis.
How physiotherapists treat
In practice, physiotherapy for the elderly generally includes physical exercises that improve or increase coordination, flexibility, endurance, strength, and range of motion. Clients receive instruction that ensures proper execution of exercises and recommendations as to how often and how many repetitions each movement requires. For pain and rehabilitation, physiotherapy treatments can include the following:
- Personalized exercise programs designed to improve your strength, range of motion, and function
- Massage
- Joint mobilization and manipulation to reduce pain and stiffness
- Hot and cold packs and modalities to relieve pain, reduce swelling, speed up the healing process, improve movement and function
- Airway clearance methods to assist people with breathing difficulties
- Skin and wound care
- Management of incontinence including pelvic floor re-education
- Functional activity and tolerance testing and training
- Work and occupational re-training and return to work planning
- Prescription, fabrication and application of assistive, adaptive, supportive and protective devices and equipment
- Environmental change, focusing on removing barriers to function
How we can help you
Physical activity is a very important way that we can stay strong and healthy even as we age. Physiotherapy for seniors is like having a personal trainer who knows just what to do to get you feeling stronger and healthier again. As a senior home care company in Toronto, we advocate activities and services that help seniors stay as healthy and independent as possible. Call us today to book an in-home physiotherapy appointment. Our physiotherapists are all members in good standing with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario. We will come to your home and help you with your specific needs. Tips from home care Toronto!
