“I’m just not as balanced as I once
was.”
This is not an unusual conversation
starter at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office from our Groton chiropractic patients
and/or their family members. Balance is
crucial to prevent falls and
associated issues that may come with it…like
breaking something! Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office offers some news
regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement
with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes
particularly in terms of balance. Such
changes in balance also increase the risk for falling and other
health concerns. A report of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years
old who had no 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) Not being
able to do the 10 second balance test was
associated with an 84% higher risk of dying within in the
study period (12 yrs). This observational study didn’t 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, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
urges standing near to a counter
to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are
possible, keep practicing.
You’ll improve 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 did on a force plate measuring
test for postural sway. None were different in transfer of
weight. Younger ones 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 more common 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
Groton chiropractor in evaluating baseline
balance.
ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL
A newly published paper described
the benefit 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 determined
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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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.
Schedule your Groton chiropractic
appointment soon. We look forward to hearing how
much better balanced you feel!