Auburn Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !
“I’m just not as balanced as I used to be.”
This is not 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 important to prevent falls and related issues that may come with it…like breaking something! Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 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 old who did not have any problems 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) Failing the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater 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 every day! To be safe, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. recommends standing near to a tall chair to stabilize yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep practicing. You’ll do better over time! (2) Once you add a few seconds, 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 performed 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 made one-leg-stance test determined the “fallers” 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 Auburn chiropractor in evaluating baseline balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly 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 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 in the office and your practicing standing on one foot then the other at home, we will realize how well we can enhance 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 illustrates relieving chiropractic care and re-establishing balance via The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for patients with spinal stenosis.
Make your Auburn chiropractic appointment today. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you feel!
