Physios Have the ‘Golden Bullet’ to fight frailty, says the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
In order to help you in the best way possible, we at Home Physio Group we treat each patient individually, according to their personal stories.
We see many clients in their own homes or care homes who are frail. The British Geriatric Society defines frailty as a ‘distinctive state of health related to the ageing process in which multiple body systems gradually lose their in-built reserves.’
So what does this mean for you or your relative?
Older people living with frailty are at risk of dramatic changes in their physical and mental wellbeing after a minor event taking place, such as an infection, a new medication or even a fall. Older people find it harder to overcome an event, and some never get back to what’s ‘normal’ for them. The good news is that the risk of frailty however can be reduced with a healthy lifestyle and healthy nutrition.
How can physiotherapy help?
Research recommends a form of exercise called resistance training to counter frailty and sarcopenia (an age-related decrease in muscle mass and an associated loss in muscle strength). Using weights when exercising should be fairly heavy for the individual and the repetitions should be lower. The effect of this benefits the body but you would feel muscle fatigue.