Richmond Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as balanced as I once was.”
This is not an uncommon conversation starter at Johnson Chiropractic from our Richmond chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is vital to avert falls and related issues that may come with a fall…like breaking something! Johnson Chiropractic presents some news regarding 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 report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years old who did not experience any problems with walking found that 20.4% could not 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 yrs). This observational study did not declare cause/effect but suggested a connection, a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Johnson Chiropractic urges standing near to a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep working on it. 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 research project compared how known “fallers,” “nonfallers,” and young volunteers did on a force plate gauging test for postural sway. None were different in transfer of weight. Younger volunteers reduced 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 commonly used 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 Richmond 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 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 determined 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 enhance your balance!
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
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 Richmond chiropractic appointment today. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you feel!
