Williamson Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as steady as I used to be.”
This isn’t an unusual conversation starter at Apple Country Chiropractic from our Williamson chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is vital to avert falls and related problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Apple Country Chiropractic offers some news regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement 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 increase the risk for falling and other health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who had no problems with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed 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 daily! To be safe, Apple Country Chiropractic recommends standing near to 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’ll keep practicing! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A research project compared how known “fallers,” “nonfallers,” and young volunteers did on a force plate gauging test for postural sway. None differed in weight transfer. 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 Williamson 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 improving 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 determined 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 see how well we can improve your balance!
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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 Williamson chiropractic appointment soon. We look forward to hearing how much steadier you are!
