Do you or a loved one who is a senior wonder if manual therapy can improve their quality of life? Seniors are more likely to experience mobility problems, making it challenging to go around and engage in their favorite activities.
Good news has arrived.
Manual therapy for the elderly can increase muscle strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility to keep their independence. Pain, tension, and fluid retention in the muscles and joints may all be lessened with manual therapy services. Additionally, it improves circulation, muscular flexibility, and joint mobility problems.
In this article, you will discover how to maintain quality of life as a senior and the advantages of manual therapy for the elderly.
Manual Therapy For Elderly: What Is It?
Manual Therapy, also called hands-on physical Therapy, excludes the use of machinery or technology. Instead, therapists utilize their hands while executing expert, targeted, hands-on treatments. Manual therapy for the elderly is a therapeutic practice in which therapists use their hands to reduce pain and increase mobility by utilizing the following methods:
The patient is relaxed, their circulation is improved, and their discomfort is reduced by massaging their muscles and soft tissues.
Mus mobilization involves gradual movements to twist, tug, and pull joints and bones into place. It may aid in increasing flexibility and loosening stiff joint tissues.
Manipulation involves quick, decisive movements to realign joints and bones and reduce pain.
By incorporating some of the abilities that accompany manual therapy approaches, physical therapists can occasionally shorten a six-month procedure to three months or lengthen a one-year process to six months.
Manual Therapy Methods
Our physical therapists frequently incorporate manual therapy for the elderly into thorough treatment plans. The following tried-and-true manual therapy methods are some of the numerous that might be applied during your appointment:
Massage
Mobilization/manipulation
Automatic traction
discharge of the lymph
Passive motion range
Soft tissue work and mobilization/manipulation are part of manual therapy services. Therapists press on the body's soft tissues, such as the muscles, when performing delicate tissue work. This pressure can soothe muscle tension, improve blood flow, dissolve scar tissue, and lessen or even eliminate inflammation in the soft tissues.
Clinicians frequently mobilize and manipulate joints during manual therapy services. Mobilization and manipulation techniques help lessen discomfort, restore joint mechanics, and enable an early return to exercise and daily activities.
Instrument-Assisted Manual Therapy
Specialized therapeutic instruments are used in instrument-assisted manual therapy, also known as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, to move soft tissue. Physical therapists employ this technique to aid in improving blood flow, range of motion, flexibility, healing, and pain management. Our physical therapists have received training in the Graston Technique and Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Massage (IASTM). Two types of instrument-assisted manual therapy employ diagnostic and therapeutic tools to identify and treat a variety of conditions, including soft tissue conditions like:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome,
IT Band Syndrome,
Achilles Tendonitis
Instrumented manual therapy can be used in addition to manual therapy, modalities, and exercises to treat muscular strains, back/neck discomfort, joint pain, and most extremity injuries.
What Conditions can be treated through Manual Therapy for the Elderly?
Manual therapy for the elderly can be an effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, including:
spasms of muscles
tense muscles
a low back ache
Neck injuries and pain
foot, ankle, hip, and knee issues
issues with the hands, wrists, elbows, and shoulders
injuries brought on by mishaps
Workplace accidents
Benefits of Manual Therapy Services
During your assessment and diagnosis, our physical therapists will frequently use manual therapy services to understand your condition better. They will employ specialized manual therapy procedures under their results to:
Enhance your capacity for movement
Improve fitness, wellness, and health
Reduce swelling, edema, discomfort, spasms, or injuries like groin strains
maintain or improve physical performance
prevent or treat bodily function impairment
Boost physical performance
Conclusion
As you can see, manual therapy for the elderly can benefit practically every aspect of health care. Ask your doctor about manual treatment if you are recuperating from surgery, a sickness, an illness, or another condition. Manual therapy services can help you become more mobile and make daily routines easier to regain independence.