Concord, NC 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 Pure Chiropractic from our Concord, NC chiropractic patients and/or their family members. Balance is vital to prevent falls and associated issues that may come with a fall…like breaking something! Pure Chiropractic presents some news regarding fall prevention and balance enhancement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.
BALANCE AND AGING
The 50s bring some noticeable changes especially 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 didn't have any problems with walking found that 20.4% could not perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which managed to intensify the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Not being able to do the 10 second balance test was associated with an 84% greater risk of dying within in the study period (12 years). This observational study did not declare cause/effect but suggested a connection, a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Pure Chiropractic urges standing next a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If you can only do 2 seconds today, keep working on it. you will do better over time! (2) Once you see some improvement, you will 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 differed in weight transfer. 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 designed one-leg-stance test established who the “fallers” were 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 Concord, NC 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 improving 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 measured 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 Pure Chiropractic
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 Concord, NC chiropractic appointment now. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you feel!
