Frailty is a common syndrome among older adults that involves loss of muscle strength, exhaustion, low levels of physical activity, and an increased risk of falling. Inactivity and the subsequent sarcopenia, or a decrease in the amount and quality of muscle, is a major cause of frailty in older adults. Physical therapy can play a critical role in helping those with frailty restore overall mobility, strength, and aerobic capacity through a customized therapeutic exercise, strengthening, and balance training program. Check out our infographic on how physical therapy can help address frailty syndrome to learn more!

Maintaining and improving balance is critical as you age to prevent falls. Aging can contribute to visual, vestibular, and muscular weakness issues that can negatively impact your ability to maintain balance and lead to a fall. Each year, nearly 25% of older adults fall. Physical therapists can play a critical role in preventing falls and improving balance, function, and strength in older adults through a personalized fall prevention balance training program. A balance training program for older adults has been shown to reduce the risk of falls by 23% and enhance older adults’ independence and mobility.

Check out our March 2023 Newsletter, highlighting physical therapy for frozen shoulder, our spring donation drive, how physical therapy can slow the aging process, and how to prevent an ankle sprain.

Aging can be accompanied by physiological changes in the body that may limit your physical function, strength, balance, and mobility. However, research has shown that physical exercise can prevent age-related decline, delay loss of physical function, and reduce the risk of fall-related injuries. Physical therapy can help slow the aging process through customized and targeted exercise interventions that help seniors maintain and improve strength, function, mobility, balance, and vitality safely.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that damages brain cells, limits cognitive function, inhibits physical function, and leads to reduced functional independence. It is the most common form of dementia and develops with age, affecting 6 million Americans last year. Exercise can be extremely beneficial not only in preventing Alzheimer’s disease but also in improving symptoms of the disease and slowing cognitive and physical decline in Alzheimer’s patients.

Frailty is a common syndrome among older adults that involves loss of muscle strength, exhaustion, low levels of physical activity, and increased risk of falling. Inactivity and the subsequent sarcopenia, or a decrease in the amount and quality of muscle, is a major cause of frailty in older adults. Physical therapy can help those with frailty restore overall mobility, strength, and cardiorespiratory capacity safely through a customized therapeutic exercise, strengthening, and balance training program.

Mangiarelli Rehabilitation physical therapist Jen guides a senior patient through three balance training exercises. Maintaining and improving balance is critical as you age as good balance allows you to maintain a stable, upright position when standing, walking, and sitting and avoid injury from a fall. Physical therapists can help you improve your balance as you age and prevent falls through a customized exercise and balance training program.

Check out our January 2021 newsletter covering tips to manage arthritis during winter, snow shoveling safety, how to set SMART health goals in 2021, the danger of deconditioning in seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes to the clinic’s wellness program this winter.

Physical deconditioning is a significant impact of the isolation-driven inactivity in seniors during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lack of movement contributes to reduced physical fitness, strength, and mobility, leading to increased vulnerability to falls and fractures. Physical therapy can effectively address deconditioning in seniors and improve their physical function and mobility gradually and safely through an exercise conditioning program tailored to the senior’s specific needs and ability.