October 21, 2019 | Alzheimer's and Other Dementias, Physical Activity
October is National Physical Therapy Month, which is a great reminder and opportunity to evaluate how you or a loved one might benefit from physical therapy services. While therapy is often recommended after an accident or surgery, you don’t need to have acute health concerns to enlist the services of an experienced therapist.
Why Physical Therapy Services?
Here are a few reasons why it might be time to find a physical therapist near your home:
- Daily Movement and Activities: The aging process means that you likely can’t move as well as you used to in your younger years. Therapy can be beneficial to build muscle strength, improve flexibility, and maximize available movement as much as possible. Seniors can benefit from physical therapy to regain mobility, maintain independence, and prevent falls.
- Managing Pain: As an alternative to opioids and other addictive pain medications, consider the safe and effective solutions available through physical therapy. Instead of masking the sensation of pain, therapy gets to the root cause to strengthen the muscles and support the body. Therapists help with pain management through exercise, manual therapy, pain education, and lifestyle adjustments.
- Patients with Dementia: Overall health is critical for patients who have dementia. Researchers are now finding that patients with cognitive decline might benefit from physical therapy. These services can reduce the risk of falling, improve balance and gait, and support healthy circulation which stimulates the brain and body.
Not only can you benefit during the physical therapy sessions, but you will also have “homework” to do throughout the week. Consistency with your training program is the best way to maintain health and independence as you age.
Finding the Right Therapy Services
A physical therapist can be a valuable resource to help patients with physical needs. If you are looking for solutions to restore physical function and optimize health, then it might be time to talk to a local therapist.
Where should you start when physical or mental support is needed for yourself or a loved one? It can be overwhelming to evaluate your options without recommendations from a trusted expert. At Windward Life Care, our experienced team is here to offer guidance and support in locating the right local resources that assist your individual needs. Contact us at any time if you are looking for information about available services.