“I’m just not as steady as I once
was.”
This is not an uncommon conversation
starter at Back And Neck Care Center from our Severna Park chiropractic patients
and/or their family members. Balance is
important to prevent falls and
related problems that may come with a fall…like
breaking something! Back And Neck Care Center presents some news
regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement
with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some hard to ignore changes
especially in terms of balance. Such
changes in balance also increase the risk for falling and other
health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
of age who didn't have any issues with walking found that 20.4% could
not perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed
to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Not being
able to do the 10 second balance test was related to an 84% greater risk of dying within in the
study time (12 years). This observational study didn’t declare cause/effect but suggested a connection,
a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Back And Neck Care Center
recommends standing next a counter
to catch yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep practicing.
you will improve as you practice!
(2) Once you add a few seconds, you will
want to do more! Proprioception exercises may help, too!
MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO PRACTICE BALANCE
A study compared how known “fallers,”
“nonfallers,” and young volunteers performed on a force plate measuring
test for postural sway. None differed 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 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 quite helpful to your
Severna Park chiropractor in determining baseline
balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A recently 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 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 realize how well we can improve
your balance!
CONTACT Back And Neck Care Center
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates relieving
chiropractic care and re-establishing balance via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for
patients with spinal stenosis.
Schedule your Severna Park chiropractic
appointment now. We look forward to hearing how
much steadier you feel!
"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."