What is Geriatric Physical Therapy?
Geriatric physical therapy is a type of physical therapy that is designed specifically for older adults and their unique issues and challenges. Geriatric physical therapy recognizes that as people age, they become less active, lose muscle strength, coordination, and reaction time, and lower physical activity tolerance.
Geriatric physical therapy differs from other types of physical therapy in that it focuses on developing strength and endurance in older adults to help them in the following ways:
- Keeping activeÂ
- Preventing deconditioning
- Maintaining independence in performing daily activitiesÂ
- Preventing muscle atrophy
- Decreasing the risk of falls and related injuries
Geriatric physical therapy can be administered in several settings, including:
- Outpatient facilities such as hospitals and clinics
- Nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities are examples of inpatient healthcare facilities.
- At home, which is especially beneficial for those with mobility issues who struggle to get out.
Purpose of Geriatric Physical Therapy
Geriatric physical therapy aims to assist older adults in developing physical strength, improving balance, increasing confidence, maintaining independence for as long as possible, remaining physically active, and optimizing their physical and psychological well-being.
The inability to maintain independence and falls are seniors’ most complicated issues.
According to the studies, approximately one-third of all people aged 65 and older fall annually.
Broken bones, hip fractures, hospitalizations, and even death result from these falls. Geriatric physical therapists help with fall prevention and work with those who have fallen to give them the best chance of recovery.
Stretches and Equipment for seniors
Geriatric physical therapy typically consists of exercises designed to improve strength, flexibility, endurance, and balance to aid in activities and movements and prevent overall deconditioning. Typical exercises include:
- Lower body stretches, particularly those for the lower back, hamstrings, and hip flexors promote good mobility and joint alignment and keep tight and stiff joints from interfering with proper muscle activation.
- Endurance training on cardiovascular Equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes to keep the heart and lungs healthy and improve circulation.
- Sit-to-stands, squats, step-ups, leg lifts, and bridges are lower-body strengthening exercises that target the glutes and quads (muscles in the thighs and buttocks) to maintain strength.
- Balance exercises, such as static balance exercises on flat and uneven surfaces, weight-shifting exercises, marching, and tandem walking heel to toe, can help you maintain stability while standing, walking, and changing directions.
- Body weight exercises are used in geriatric physical therapy to help improve mobility. Only light weights or bands are usually provided when Equipment is used to provide increased resistance without overloading joints.
Role of Geriatric Physical Therapist
Geriatric physical therapists provide individualized care. They assess their capabilities before developing a treatment plan tailored to their requirements.
This program will include education and information, various exercises, and other wellness-related components.
Furthermore, geriatric physical therapists frequently collaborate with other healthcare personnel who work with their patients to coordinate the best care for that individual.
Geriatric physical therapists assist their patients in understanding that the bodily changes that occur as they age are easily misunderstood and can lead to many limitations; however, this does not have to be the case.
They assist patients in regaining any abilities they have lost over the years and gaining new skills that may offer an increased range of motion, strength, and general mobility.
They design a specialized exercise program for your patients that will aid in the prevention of disability and the restoration of functions. This program will also assist patients in the following areas:
- Experiencing lower levels of painÂ
- Improving their sensations in the body
- Increase their level of physical fitnessÂ
- Integrating adaptations within the home to ensure accessibility and safetyÂ
- Learning how to use assistive devicesÂ
- Learning to improve the functionality of muscles and jointsÂ
- Improve balanceÂ
- Improve range of motionÂ
- Optimize strengthÂ
- Improve flexibilityÂ
- Improve coordination
Additional Senior Rehabilitation
Other rehabilitation services for older adults to help them regain their health and physical function include:
- Stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease are all treated with neurological physical therapy.
- Cardiac rehabilitation improves endurance and restores proper cardiac function following a heart attack or surgery.
- Occupational therapy to regain fine motor control and functional hand use to complete daily activities.
Geriatric physical therapy specialist in Michigan
Back 2 Health Physical Therapy strives to assist patients in regaining their independence and improving their overall quality of life. If you believe you or a loved one could benefit from treatments, please contact us immediately! We’d be delighted to schedule a consultation and start you on the road to better health and wellness.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does geriatric physical therapy benefit older people?
Geriatric physical therapy assists older adults in regaining the muscle strength, balance, and coordination required to improve their walking ability, overall mobility and level of functioning, and independence to perform daily tasks.
What exercises are beneficial to the elderly?
Exercises for older adults can help them gain the strength, stability, balance, and power they need to perform everyday tasks like getting out of a chair, going up and down stairs, and walking. The quadriceps and glutes are two muscle groups that can be targeted. Standing up and sitting in a chair, step-ups, bridges, clamshells, leg lifts, and balance exercises are all used to activate these.
What exercises should seniors avoid?
Older adults should avoid strenuous exercises involving heavy lifting and high impact to avoid injury. Activities should be done slowly and with control. They should also be completed with only body weight or light resistance to promote proper joint movement and activation without straining muscles, tendons, or joints.
