There are Risks for Not Starting Physical Therapy Early

The Importance of Physical Therapy

Muscle mass and strength decrease with age, and the trend is even more pronounced in the elderly who are frail and deconditioned. Numerous studies have shown that physical therapy and exercise in older adults increase mobility, enhances the performance of activities of daily living, improves walking, decrease falls, and increases bone mineral density to decrease the risk of fracture.

Exercise is likely to benefit even the frailest of older adults. In a group of nursing home patients whose average age was 87, Fiatarone et al. showed that a program of resistance training increased muscle strength more than 100%, muscle size in the lower extremities by 3%, and walking velocity by 12%.

Risks of Not Starting Physical Therapy Early

Our physical therapists want to help seniors gain their independence back. It is important to start physical therapy as soon as the warning signs of frailty and deconditioning become present.

Physical Therapy Can Help:

• Maintain functional independence.
• Maintain strength to avoid falls and fractures.
• Maintain activity levels to prevent physiological decline and consequences such as; cardiovascular disease.

In-Home Physical Therapy:

Patients can take advantage of therapy in their own home! Reddy Care's team of physical & occupational therapists travel to you and help them work in the best environment for improving their condition. Physical therapy at home helps keep patients independent and moving longer because doing the correct exercises with the correct resistance will get them stronger. 

We understand your concern that sending patients to the clinic to use machines would be better for their results, however, machinery isn't really necessary. The reason for that is because the therapists bring weights and therabands to provide the proper resistance and can work on conditioning, strengthening, and balance at home.

The therapists provide the proper mechanism to increase function and increase sensorimotor function at home. Developing strength will help for full weight-bearing. Any form of resistance will help increase and achieve the strength to become more functional and reduce the risk of falls in your patients.  At Reddy Care, our treatments are tailored to each patient’s unique needs. You can count on us to be by your patient’s side every step of the way.

If you have any questions, give Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy a call!
Reddy Care Great Neck: 516-829-0030
Reddy Care Farmingdale: 516-420-2900
In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy: 516-829-0030

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.