“I’m just not as balanced as I once
was.”
This is not an uncommon conversation
starter at Hollstrom & Associates Inc from our Largo chiropractic patients
and/or their loved ones. Balance is
crucial to avert falls and
associated issues that may come with a fall…like
breaking something! Hollstrom & Associates Inc presents some news
about fall prevention and balance enhancement
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 increase the risk for falling and other
health concerns. A study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
of age who didn't have any issues with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t do 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% higher risk of dying within in the
study period (12 years). This observational study did
not state cause/effect but proposed a link,
a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Hollstrom & Associates Inc
urges standing near to a tall chair
to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are
possible, keep practicing.
you will improve over time!
(2) Once you add a few seconds, you’ll
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 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
Largo chiropractor in evaluating baseline
balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly published paper described
the benefit of (Cox®) flexion distraction spinal manipulation
for lumbar spinal stenosis patients by enhancing 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 in the office and your practicing standing on one foot
then the other at home, we will see how well we can enhance
your balance!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
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 Largo chiropractic
appointment today. We look forward to seeing 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."