“I’m just not as steady as I used to be.”
This is not an unusual conversation
starter at Minster Chiropractic Center from our Minster chiropractic patients
and/or their family members. Balance is
important to prevent falls and
associated problems that may come with it…like
breaking something! Minster Chiropractic Center offers some news
about fall prevention and balance improvement
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 study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
old who didn't have any issues with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed
to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test had an 84% higher risk of dying within in the
study period (12 yrs). This observational study didn’t declare cause/effect but suggested a link,
a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Minster Chiropractic Center
urges standing next a tall chair
to stabilize yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep working on it.
you will improve as you practice!
(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 differed in weight transfer. Younger volunteers 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 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
Minster 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 decreasing
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 improve
your balance!
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
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 Minster chiropractic
appointment today. We look forward to hearing how
much better balanced 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."