- Reducing the risk of a fall. One of the most common reasons a senior needs physical therapy is to recover from a fall . Falls are the leading case of accidents among seniors and often result in a bone fractures and other injuries. A physical therapist can teach seniors techniques to prevent a fall.
- Lowering risk of injury. Physical therapy helps seniors learn how to maintain their stability as it relates to gravity when they’re mobile. This awareness helps reduce the risk of injuries and re-injury.
- Decreasing pain from chronic conditions. Physical therapy can help alleviate discomfort from conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis and offset any future symptoms.
- Lessening the need for prescription drugs. Seniors are often on a wide variety of prescription drugs to help manage their chronic pain. However, a physical therapy regimen could help reduce the need for medications, and could be a more cost-effective form of treatment.
- Maintaining an independent lifestyle. The quicker seniors are able to recover from an illness or injury and manage their pain allows them to lead an active, independent lifestyle for a longer period of time.
Geriatric physical therapy
Geriatric physical therapy places a special emphasis on the needs of aging adults. It helps treat conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, joint replacement and balance disorders. Specialized programs are designed to help restore mobility, increase fitness levels and reduce overall pain.
Orthopedic physical therapy
An orthopedic physical therapist helps treat injuries of the musculoskeletal system, as well as help individuals recover from orthopedic surgeries. The goal is to restore function to the muscles, bones, joints, tendons and ligaments.
Cardiopulmonary physical therapy
When individuals have had a heart attack, or have other cardiovascular or pulmonary conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or pulmonary fibrosis, cardiopulmonary physical therapy can help increase endurance and functional independence.
Neurological physical therapy
Neurological physical therapy focuses on the brain and the body, making it slightly different from other types of physical therapy. When individuals have neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease or have suffered a brain injury, a neurological physical therapist focuses on teaching them to adapt to visual, mobility, balance and muscle loss impairments to more easily complete activities of daily living.
“Physical therapists work on the mind-body relationship, helping folks to adapt to impairments so they can move better in their environment,”
