“I’m just not as steady as I once
was.”
This isn’t an unusual conversation
starter at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. from our Auburn chiropractic patients
and/or their loved ones. Balance is
crucial to avert falls and
associated problems that may come with it…like
breaking something! Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. offers some news
about fall prevention and balance enhancement
with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes
especially 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 had no issues with walking found that 20.4% could
not do a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed
to increase the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test was
associated with an 84% higher risk of dying within in the
study time (12 years). This observational study did
not state cause/effect but suggested a link,
a link that may insire middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
urges standing near to a counter
to stabilize yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are
possible, keep practicing.
You’ll improve as you practice!
(2) Once you see some improvement, you’ll
want to do more! 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 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 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
Auburn chiropractor in evaluating baseline
balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A recently published paper described
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 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 improve
your balance!
CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.
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 Auburn chiropractic
appointment soon. We look forward to seeing how
much steadier you are!