“I’m just not as balanced as I once
was.”
This is not an uncommon conversation
starter at Wilson Family Chiropractic from our Millville chiropractic patients
and/or their loved ones. Balance is
key to prevent falls and
associated issues that may come with it…like
breaking something! Wilson Family Chiropractic 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 boost the risk for falling and other
health concerns. A study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
of age who had no problems with walking found that 20.4% couldn’t perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended
to intensify 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 did
not declare cause/effect but proposed a connection,
a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice
standing on one leg daily! To be safe, Wilson Family Chiropractic
recommends standing next a counter
to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are
possible, keep working on it.
you will 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 research project compared how known “fallers,”
“nonfallers,” and young volunteers did on a force plate gauging
test for postural sway. None were different in weight transfer. Younger ones 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 established who the “fallers” were 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 quite helpful to your
Millville chiropractor in determining 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 reducing
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 realize how well we can enhance
your balance!
CONTACT Wilson Family Chiropractic
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 Millville chiropractic
appointment soon. We look forward to seeing how
much better balanced you are!
"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."