Severe Falls
As we age, our bones and muscles get weaker due to lost nutrients and natural wear and tear on the body. Unfortunately, this means that a simple trip and fall could be a potentially dangerous – and sometimes even life-threatening – situation for a senior. For example, a senior may fall out of bed in the morning and break a leg, arm, or even their hips and suffer extreme pain.
Thankfully, professional physical therapy can help with this problem by managing your pain and making your body stronger. For example, this type of care can improve the strength of your muscles and tendons and protect your bones from serious injuries. Just as importantly, this care can help you recover after a fall and get you back on your feet and feeling better than ever.
Even better, physical treatment also helps to keep you from injuring yourself again and ending up in the hospital repeatedly. This benefit is vast because hospital visits can be very draining for many seniors. Repeated injuries may also cause anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems that decrease your quality of life and make you feel worse about yourself.
Potential Infections
Inactive seniors or those who suffer from excessive pain often have a much higher risk for infections than seniors who remain active or go through physical therapy. The reasons for this increase are complex. First of all, a senior who sits for too long doesn't move their muscles enough, which could weaken their body in many ways. This problem can cause the immune system to work less efficiently.
Unfortunately, a decreased immune system opens you up to a variety of health problems. For example, pneumonia often occurs in inactive seniors and may cause severe pain and even death. Inactive seniors also suffer from an increased risk of skin problems, such as ulcers and even bed sores if they sit for too long. Thankfully, professional physical therapy can help to minimize this problem.
For example, seniors will need to get out of their favorite chair, drive to their treatment session, and go through challenging care sessions that increase their physical activity. This exercise could improve their physical health by boosting their immune system and minimizing the risk of severe skin problems. In some cases, a senior may be inspired to try out a little exercise of their own.
Cardiovascular Problems
Our heart and lungs form one of the most critical systems in our body: the cardiovascular system. The lungs draw in oxygen and help to oxygenate the blood in your heart. The heart then pumps this healthy oxygen-rich blood through your body to keep you active and healthy. Unfortunately, our cardiovascular system often degrades as we age and causes health problems.
For example, seniors may experience a higher risk of heart attack and stroke as they age, mainly if they are inactive or have a poor diet. Thankfully, professional physical therapy can help with this problem by improving your physical activity in a variety of ways. For example, a session on a treadmill could provide you with the exercise you need to enhance the strength of your heart.
A good physical therapist can also come up with an exercise program for seniors who suffer from an inactive lifestyle. This exercise plan will take into account a senior's strengths and weaknesses and work on improving their overall health. These routines can then be followed at a therapy session or at home to develop a senior's overall health potently and effectively.
Mental Health Issues
Seniors, unfortunately, often suffer from an increased risk of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. These concerns usually pair with physical pain to become more severe and problematic. For example, a senior may struggle to get out of bed every morning and experience severe anxiety just contemplating it. Thankfully, high-quality physical therapy can help to minimize this problem in a variety of ways.
For example, physical therapy can help decrease your anxiety by managing severe pain that makes your life more difficult. Just as importantly, it can help to release pheromones and other pain-relieving chemicals that help to control some of your pain. This benefit can help make your life more comfortable and manage the type of depression common in those with persistent physical pain.
Although physical therapy can help manage some symptoms of mental health problems, you should get professional help with any issues if they become too severe. Though professional physical therapy may help to treat many symptoms and decrease their severity, troubling and persistent issues require medication or behavior adjustments to manage them properly.
Let Therapists Help You Feel Better
The benefits of high-quality professional physical therapy are too numerous to discuss here. Though this care method is not a single treatment option for most health problems, it can provide a more effective treatment environment that improves your overall care. When paired with other treatments, it can help you recover from most aging-related issues.
So if you suffer from a high level of physical or emotional pain and want to feel better about life, please don't hesitate to contact us at Rec Center Physical Therapy today to learn more. Our professional physical therapy in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area can provide you with the care and attention that you need to get through this time promptly and without experiencing unneeded pain.
