Tom Brocato has over 30 years of experience as a licensed physical therapist, and he has been the Director of Apalachicola Physical Therapy for nearly 30 years. In the following article, Tom Brocato discusses how senior citizens can utilize physical therapy services to strengthen their bodies, enabling them to live a more active and independent life.
As we age, our bodies become weaker, less flexible, and less resilient, which can potentially lead to dangerous falls, fractures, and other setbacks. Lack of mobility can prevent senior citizens from maintaining their overall independence. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Physical therapy for aging adults can help seniors combat the natural effects of aging to maintain their strength and stability for years to come.
Tom Brocato explores below how physical therapy for aging adults is tailored to the older population’s unique needs, including balance, impairments, chronic pain, arthritis, and mobility issues.
Tom Brocato Explains the Benefits for Aging Adults
Physical therapy for aging adults, also known as Geriatric Physical Therapy, is different from physical therapy for others, which tends to focus on recovery from specific injuries and ailments. Instead, the focus of senior care is preventative - it addresses the problems humans naturally face over time, such as
coordination, decrease in strength, balance, and reaction timing.
Tom Brocato also notes that physical therapy for aging adults can be performed at home, at inpatient healthcare facilities (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or rehab centers), or at outpatient facilities (hospitals or clinics). It should always be performed under the guidance of a trained medical professional.
Which Aging Adults Should Use Physical Therapy
All aging adults can benefit from physical therapy. Natural aging can
cause bones to fracture as they weaken and shrink in size and density. Plus, muscles can lose their flexibility and strength, leading to balance, stability, and coordination issues. Structural changes in the intestines can lead to digestive issues, and minor shifts in the brain can cause problems with memory and cognition.
Tom Brocato says that all of these age-related changes are natural, and none have to be dire. Most can benefit greatly from regular exercise. In addition to going to the gym, walking, and doing physical chores around the house, older folks might consider partaking in physical therapy to combat some of the more stubborn effects of time on the body.
Preventing Common Impairments as We Age
Being an active adult is key. There are a wide variety of issues that physical therapy can improve for active adults in
55 plus communities in Chester County PA and elsewhere in order to prevent limitations and impairments as they grow older.
Tom Brocato explains that geriatric physical therapy can contribute to fall prevention. One of the worst causes of significant injury in aging adults is falling due to the poor balance and lack of coordination that comes with getting older. Falls can lead to a reduced quality of life, hospitalization, severe disability, or in some cases, death. With physical therapy, adults can improve their balance, become more nimble and less likely to fall, gaining strength so that the impact of a fall is less severe.
Physical therapy can also help reduce chronic pain due to age-related conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis by keeping muscles and joints limber. Regular exercise can also combat constipation and other digestive issues while improving memory and mental health.
Tom Brocato says that coordination, gait, and balance can all be improved by physical therapy to allow for overall increased mobility. With greater mobility and less pain thanks to physical therapy, aging adults can live a more easy and independent life.
Examples of Physical Therapy Methods
There is a wide variety of physical therapy options available for aging adults, both at home and at facilities. Tom Brocato explains that these include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, gait training, and balance and coordination training. Each of these contribute to reducing pain, increasing mobility, and improving balance and endurance.
These methods are often combined with education on home safety so that seniors can better adapt to their environment as their bodies change.
Where to Access PT Services
Many facilities, both inpatient and outpatient provide geriatric physical therapy services to help seniors improve and maintain their physical health and independence. Tom Brocato also notes that seniors can contact their healthcare provider for guidance on where to access the best physical therapy services within their network or local area. Many facilities often provide transportation services for those who do not drive.
Conclusion
Physical therapy for aging adults can help seniors enhance their mobility and, therefore, maintain their independence throughout their later years. Senior services are programs tailored to meet the specific challenges of the aging population to help them be their best selves throughout their lives.
