Augusta Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as balanced as I used to be.”
This is not an unusual conversation starter at Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic from our Augusta chiropractic patients and/or their loved ones. Balance is vital to prevent falls and associated issues that may come with it…like breaking something! Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic offers some news about 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 boost the risk for falling and other health concerns. A study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years of age who did not experience any issues 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) Failing the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study period (12 yrs). This observational study did not declare cause/effect but suggested a link, a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic urges standing next a tall chair to stabilize yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep practicing. You’ll improve over time! (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 were different in weight transfer. Younger ones 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 tests 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 Augusta 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 reducing postural sway and entropy (forward/backward movement) as assessed 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 realize how well we can enhance your balance!
CONTACT Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic
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 Augusta chiropractic appointment soon. We look forward to seeing how much steadier you feel!
