West Des Moines Chiropractic Tip: Practice Balance Every Day !

“I’m just not as steady as I once was.”

This is not an unusual conversation starter at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa from our West Des Moines chiropractic patients and/or their loved ones. Balance is important to prevent falls and related problems that may come with it…like breaking something! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa offers some news about fall prevention and balance improvement with spinal manipulation and balance practice.

BALANCE AND AGING

The 50s bring some noticeable changes particularly in terms of balance. Such changes in balance also boost the risk for falling and other health concerns. A study of 1702 people between 51 and 75 years old who did not experience any problems with walking found that 20.4% could not perform a 10 second one-legged-stand which tended to intensify the risk of all-cause mortality. (1) Failing the 10 second balance test was related to an 84% higher risk of dying within in the study period (12 yrs). This observational study did not declare cause/effect but suggested a link, a link that may encourage middle and older age folks to practice standing on one leg every day! To be safe, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa recommends standing near to a tall chair to catch yourself if necessary. If today only 3 seconds are possible, keep practicing. you will do better over time! (2) Once you add a few seconds, 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 performed on a force plate gauging test for postural sway. None were different in weight transfer. Younger ones 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 made one-leg-stance test determined the “fallers” better – 100% - than other commonly used ways 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 West Des Moines chiropractor in evaluating baseline balance.

ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC MANIPULATION IN MOVEMENT CONTROL

A newly published paper described the benefit 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 assessed on a force plate.  (4) That is so good! Between our in-office chiropractic treatments with Cox® Technic during office visits and in exercise sessions of practicing standing on one foot then the other at home, we will realize how well we can improve your balance!

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

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.

Make your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment now. We look forward to hearing how much better balanced you feel!