“I’m just not as steady as I once
was.”
This is not an unusual conversation
starter at Pflugerville Wellness Center from our Pflugerville chiropractic patients
and/or their loved ones. Balance is
key to prevent falls and
associated problems that may come with it…like
breaking something! Pflugerville Wellness Center presents some news
about fall prevention and balance improvement
with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some hard to ignore changes
particularly in relation to 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 had no issues with walking found that 20.4% could
not perform 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
associated with an 84% higher risk of dying within in the
study period (12 yrs). This observational study didn’t declare 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, Pflugerville Wellness Center
recommends standing near to a tall chair
to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are
possible, keep practicing.
You’ll do better as you practice!
(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 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 designed
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
Pflugerville chiropractor in determining 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 improving 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 during office visits and in
exercise sessions of practicing standing on one foot
then the other at home, we will see how well we can improve
your balance!
CONTACT Pflugerville Wellness 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.
Schedule your Pflugerville chiropractic
appointment today. We look forward to hearing how
much steadier you are!
"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."