Physiotherapy for Seniors in Edmonton: Promoting Mobility and Independence

Moving around freely and independently is important for your overall quality of life because it determines your ability to work, participate in your favourite recreational activities, and carry out your daily activities comfortably. While mobility declines with age due to age-related degeneration and other conditions, senior citizens in Edmonton must maintain mobility and independence to promote an active lifestyle, enjoy their daily activities, prevent a breakdown of overall health, and enhance their overall quality of life.

Physiotherapy is a healthcare specialization that can help senior citizens to stay strong and safe, and live the active life they desire. Physiotherapy treats and manages injuries, illnesses, and other medical conditions that may restrict mobility and physical function in seniors, limiting their independence and making them rely on caregivers. Therefore, this article will explore the benefits of physiotherapy at Vira Physiotherapy for seniors and how it addresses the conditions threatening their mobility and independence. 

Why is Mobility and Independence Important for Seniors?

Muscle strength, joint flexibility, and balance are essential components of mobility and independence. However, as we age, we may experience a huge decline in these components, limiting our ability to move around independently and perform our daily activities without a hassle. Whenever this occurs in senior citizens, they are unable to move freely and perform their daily tasks without help, leading to declining physical health and a lower quality of life, all of which take their toll on emotional well-being. Therefore, mobility and independence are essential for senior citizens. Some of the physical and psychological consequences of reduced mobility in seniors include:

• Increased risks of falls: A lack of some essential components of mobility, such as strength, balance, and coordination, can increase your risk of falling and sustaining injuries as a senior. Therefore, if you experience mobility problems, you may be in constant fear of falling even when you perform simple tasks like getting out of bed, stepping into the shower, etc. 

• Muscle weakness: If you already suffer from mobility issues, you may be forced to live a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by minimal physical activity and prolonged periods of sitting and lying down. As a result, you may experience muscle atrophy (shrinking of muscle tissue), muscle weakness, and joint degeneration. 

• Pain and discomfort: While pain may lead to reduced mobility, limited mobility can also lead to pain. When you suffer limited mobility for a prolonged period, you may experience muscle tightness, stiffness, joint deterioration, inflammation, poor circulation, and other conditions that may cause pain and discomfort.

• Reduced cognitive function: Lack of physical activity for prolonged periods can affect cognitive function, memory, and mental alertness by reducing the blood flow to the brain, causing sleep disturbances, and decreasing mental stimulation.

• Social isolation: A senior’s inability to move around freely without help may restrict them from participating in social events, such as community activities, that help them maintain connections with friends and family. 

What Does Physiotherapy for Seniors Entail?

Physiotherapy for seniors, known as geriatric physiotherapy in Edmonton, aims to promote mobility, independence, overall physical health, and a better quality of life for older adults. 

Physiotherapy for seniors in Edmonton can help to address and manage the various conditions that limit physical function and mobility in older adults, ensuring that they do not have to rely on caregivers to perform their simple daily activities and enjoy their old age. The following are the most common components of geriatric physiotherapy:

• Initial assessment: Typically, this occurs during the first session of physiotherapy. At this stage, your physiotherapist will review your medical history and evaluate your current physical condition to confirm your mobility issues. You may also undergo tests assessing your muscle strength, balance, posture, coordination, joint function, gait, and other components of mobility. If necessary, your physiotherapist may perform a physical examination and order diagnostic imaging tests.

• Individualized treatment plans: After a comprehensive assessment, your physiotherapist will develop a unique treatment plan based on your assessment results to meet your treatment goals and plans. A treatment plan for an older adult suffering from mobility challenges may include pain management techniques, strength and endurance training, balance retraining, flexibility exercises, range of motion exercises, etc. 

• Patient education: This component of geriatric physiotherapy is as important as treatment itself. In Edmonton, AB, our physiotherapists educate seniors about their condition and how they can work together for faster recovery. 

• Assistive devices: If required, your physiotherapist may recommend the use of assistive devices, such as walkers and canes, to aid mobility during the treatment duration and ensure safe and effective recovery. 

Physiotherapy Techniques for Seniors with Mobility Challenges

Physiotherapists employ several non-invasive techniques during sessions to relieve pain, restore physical function and mobility, and improve your overall quality of life. The following are some of the most common and effective physiotherapy techniques that you may encounter during geriatric physiotherapy include:

• Manual Therapy: This is one of the most common physiotherapy techniques. Manual therapy is a pain management method that involves non-invasive hands-on techniques where the physiotherapist uses their hands and skilled and passive movements to manipulate the muscles, joints, and other soft tissues. Manual therapy is often used to relieve pain, improve blood circulation, and enhance the range of motion. Therefore, it can be used to address mobility issues in seniors.

• Therapeutic Exercises: These refer to a series of physical activities and movements that are designed to correct impairments, restore musculoskeletal function, and improve overall health. Therefore, physiotherapists may design highly effective and uniquely tailored exercise programs to improve the strength, flexibility, endurance, and physical function of seniors suffering from mobility issues.

• Gait and balance training: Balance issues contribute to mobility challenges among seniors. Therefore, geriatric physiotherapy programs may include balance training to improve coordination and overall mobility in seniors.

• Other modalities: In addition to non-invasive techniques, geriatric physiotherapy may employ other technologies to manage pain and improve mobility. Some of these modalities may include transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound therapy, heat and cold therapy, electrotherapy, etc. 

• Post-surgical rehabilitation: Sometimes, major surgical procedures, such as fracture repair, hip surgery, knee replacement surgery, and spinal surgery may be the reason for a senior’s mobility challenges. If this is the case, geriatric physiotherapy may also offer post-surgical rehabilitation to help seniors heal quickly and recover faster so that they can be on their feet again in no time. 

These and many more are common physical therapy techniques that you may encounter if you undergo geriatric physiotherapy for seniors in Edmonton.

Benefits of Physiotherapy for Seniors

The following are the benefits of undergoing geriatric physiotherapy:

• Physiotherapy can improve your range of motion and flexibility, ensuring that you can move freely without pain and discomfort. 

• It can manage and relieve pain associated to musculoskeletal conditions that affect mobility without having to rely on medication.

• It can aid faster healing and quick recovery to ensure that you regain mobility if you just had surgery or are recovering from an injury.

• Physiotherapy can help to increase your endurance and muscle strength to support your posture, reduce fatigue, and improve overall physical function.

• Physiotherapy can enhance your overall physical and mental health, improving your overall quality of life.

Conclusion

Mobility issues can lead to several other problems. Apart from the obvious movement and physical function that they restrict, mobility issues can also put you at constant risk of injuries due to falls and other accidents. Seniors who suffer from mobility issues are unable to perform their daily activities comfortably, reducing their overall quality of life over time. If you suffer from mobility issues, you should consider undergoing geriatric physiotherapy at Vira Physiotherapy.