Living with pain and limited mobility is something we all have to deal with as we get older, right? Not necessarily. While it’s true we’re not all as fast or agile as we may have been in our 20s, it’s never too late to learn balance improvement exercises, strengthen muscles and boost our physical abilities. And it all starts with physical therapy.
According to the CDC, 30% of adults aged 65 and older will experience balance issues at some point, and one in four people in this age group will report a fall. The good news is that there are ways to help prevent both. Whether you’ve suffered an injury or fall, are recovering from surgery or have a condition that limits your movements or causes pain, physical therapy may help you get back to doing the things you love—and things you thought you’d never be able do again.
As we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month, we want to share what happens during physical therapy, how it can help seniors remain active and independent, and reinforce the fact that you’re never too old to start physical therapy.
What Happens During Physical Therapy?
At the first session, the physical therapist will typically examine and evaluate each patient to determine their range of motion, activity levels, any conditions that prevent certain movements and individual goals. Only then is a plan put into place, which may include a combination of exercises, stretches and training on things many of us took for granted when we were younger like how to get up, sit down and walk without causing injury.
Depending on the reason for physical therapy, your treatment plan may change. For instance, if you’ve had a knee or hip replacement, your activities would focus on rehabilitating those areas.
Who Could Benefit from Physical Therapy?
You don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from physical therapy. In fact, physical therapy can be just as important for people who’ve made more trips around the sun than around the track. Many of today’s modern seniors remain active and independent well into their 90s and beyond—and they may have physical therapy to thank.
At John Knox Village of Central Florida, residents have access to the highest levels of rehabilitation and therapy through our skilled nursing, outpatient senior services center and home healthcare services.
One of the things that sets John Knox Village apart from traditional nursing homes and standalone rehabilitation centers is the continuity of care and comfort we offer patients. All care is coordinated under one roof with an interdisciplinary team of nurses, therapists and doctors who oversee the entire rehabilitation process. It’s part of our full continuum of care designed to allow residents to receive all the services they need under one roof.
Residents aren’t the only ones who can benefit from the superior care offered by John Knox Village. We also offer both inpatient and outpatient services to local seniors—just another way we deliver on our commitment to help all seniors thrive.
Building Strength While Building Relationships
Depending on their need for physical therapy, patients may start off in our sub-acute inpatient skilled nursing center when they’ve been discharged from a hospital. Then they advance to home healthcare where our physical therapist will make sure they’re independent, mobile and safe in their home. Then they will begin outpatient therapy.
Patients who receive care from healthcare providers over time begin to develop trust and comfort. That’s abundantly clear at John Knox Village. “If I provide therapy to patients at home health, and then I do their evaluation at outpatient therapy, there’s a sense of familiarity,” Kyle Marshall, physical therapist at John Knox Village, says. “I already know about their health, their family, where they live, the type of support they have, their limitations. It makes the process much smoother for them—and for us. We don’t have to keep asking the same questions and searching for information. We can focus on providing the best care.”
Aging in Place
While fall prevention, post-surgery rehabilitation and lowering hospital readmissions are a big part of what we do, there are many additional benefits of physical therapy for seniors. At John Knox Village, patients seek our services to help relieve pain from arthritis, strengthen muscles and improve balance.
Physical therapy can also help seniors who live with chronic conditions like congestive heart failure, COPD, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and dementia remain as safe and independent in their homes.
“Our goal is to help people age in place. IIt’s not just about their quantity of life as it often is in a medical setting. We’re trying to help them have the best quality of life. My main purpose as a physical therapist isn’t just rehabbing somebody from an injury or surgery but helping them meet personal goals and accomplish what they set out to,” Marshall says.
Our Therapy Is Only Part of It
The physical therapy team at John Knox Village wears many hats. In addition to being some of the top experts in the region, our therapists also serve as educators, counselors, safety inspectors and trusted confidantes. The first few visits to patients’ homes are often spent assessing the surroundings to ensure no tripping hazards or safety issues exist, and then making any necessary modifications.
Training for caregivers or other loved ones is also a large part of what many physical therapists provide—this could be anything from showing them how to use a mechanical lift to how to supervise a home exercise program. The goal is to ensure the patient is mobile and strong after we leave.
“We want to make our patients more independent, but also provide education and training to caregivers in case they need more help. Many caregivers are in this situation for the first time, and we sometimes forget it’s not common knowledge because we do it every day,” Marshall says. “This education is a big part of what home health is all about.”
Regaining Your Balance—and Your Confidence
Seniors who have recurring balance issues or suffer repeated falls may experience anxiety, fear and lack of confidence—causing them to avoid even the simplest of activities. This can negatively affect their overall health. Physical therapy can be a great way to improve their balance and agility and get patients back to a good place—both physically and emotionally. Each patient has different goals and abilities. Our therapists help bring the two together.
“Working with elite athletes and 104-year-olds, I’ve seen both ends of the continuum of what people are capable of,” Marshall says. “And, in my experience, you have to be a lot more creative with physical therapy for seniors, but the achievements are much more rewarding. It could be something as simple as standing up without using their arms. They had no idea they could do it.”
If you’re having any sort of mobility issues, pain or difficulty with daily activities that used to be easy, physical therapy may be a good option for you. “Many people believe if they fall or need physical therapy for an injury that they’ll be moved to assisted living or long-term care. Our goal as therapists at John Knox Village is the exact opposite. We’re here to keep you as independent and active as possible so you can age in place,” Marshall says.
Make the Move
John Knox Village offers all the support you need and independence you want. Contact us today to learn more about our Independence Living residences or to set up a visit to visit our campus. Call (386) 775-0788.