9 Things Your Physiotherapist Wants You to Know About Ageing Well

Every one of us ages. No one can stop time and stay forever young. However, the process of ageing does not have to be complicated or associated with a disease or slowing down of function.

Staying healthy and fit can slow down the process of ageing and prevent various age-related health problems.

You can boost your immune function, stay physically and emotionally healthy, and promote social well-being through routine physical activity. In addition, you can effectively decrease the risk of having chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, depression, obesity and cancer.

Physical activity can improve the quality of your life and help you enjoy life to the fullest regardless of age.

Physiotherapists are health and movement experts that can guide you through achieving your health goals by minimising the effect of pain and optimising your exercise routine to help you achieve your highest functional capacity.

Here are some of the things you need to understand about ageing

1. There's something you can do about chronic pain

Chronic pain is one of the most common debilitating conditions in Australia. It is estimated that at least 1 in 5 Australians aged 45 and above suffer persistent pain.[1]

Chronic pain can interfere with your daily activities and result in financial losses due to the regular use of drug medications and work days.

One medical solution to this is a treatment by a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists are movement and pain specialists that provide quality care to help manage chronic pain and limit your dependency on pain medications.

2. You can still get stronger

There's a common misconception that being old means you become fragile and sickly. But due to advancements in medicinal science, we now know this is not the case. Instead, the human body constantly adapts and changes depending on the demand we are putting it through.

Older adults can still strengthen their bodies and improve their physical fitness through exercise and other physical activities. Resistance training can offer the benefits of increasing muscle strength and providing an aesthetic physical appearance, counteracting the effects of ageing.

3. Surgery is not always an option for back pain

Routine pain such as lower back pain is often overtreated with pain medication and surgery. However, overwhelming scientific evidence has stated that physiotherapy approaches can offer excellent results without the long-term risk of drug dependency and poor recovery from surgery.

4. Diabetes can be prevented with exercise

A study published in 2018 has found that at least 1.2 million Australians suffer from diabetes.[2] Lack of physical activity and obesity increases the risk of having diabetes. Fortunately, routine physical activity is one of the most effective ways to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes. It is a cost-efficient solution to a chronic health problem.

5. Exercise prevents accidents from falls

As we get older, our senses also start to decline. Our balance also deteriorates due to ageing and inactivity, leading to falls and serious accidents. It is estimated that over 8.1 Million Australians may experience age-related falls by 2050.[3]

Falls are preventable, and the human body can adapt and improve. A physiotherapist can guide you through exercise programs to help improve your balance and decrease your risk of falls. A physio can assess underlying factors that may negatively affect your balance and address it accordingly to help you remain active and independent.

6. Your body is designed to move

Your body is designed to move and stay active. However, living a sedentary lifestyle results in loss of muscle mass and bone mass, leading to fragility. Osteoporosis or bone weakness affects about 924,000 Australians.[4] Through physical activity and an optimised exercise program, you can improve your bone strength and decrease bone loss due to ageing.

7. Exercise can save your heart

Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death in Australia. Fortunately, lots of evidence supports exercise as one of the best solutions to prevent cardiovascular diseases. If you already have heart disease, an optimised exercise program guided by a physiotherapist can improve your overall health safely.

8. Exercise can help your brain to stay healthy

Research has shown that staying active and physically healthy decreases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and other memory-affecting conditions.

9. Bladder leakage is not permanent

Many older adults live with bladder leakage and spend years relying on pads or waking up in the middle of the night just to use a bathroom. You can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and improve your bladder control through physiotherapy rehabilitation.

Older adults don't have to live with bladder leakage and should seek professional help from a pelvic floor physio to improve their function and maximise independence.

It is recommended that adults have at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity to remain active and healthy. Talk to a physiotherapist today to guide you through an optimised exercise routine and live a healthier life.