Our bones and joints keep us upright and mobile. If they begin to degrade, we become less able to do the things we love to do and our quality of life begins to suffer. According to the Bone and Joint Initiative, more than one in two Americans over the age of 18 – and almost three of every four adults over age 65 – are restricted in some way by a musculoskeletal disorder, such as arthritis, back pain, fractures, osteoporosis, sports trauma or other issues.
The cost of treatment for these diseases continues to increase even more than other common health problems, partly because these musculoskeletal disorders generally involve long-term pain and physical disability. Did you know that treatment and lost wage costs just in the United States was almost $900 BILLION from 2009 to 2011? These healthcare costs will only continue to increase as the U.S. population continues to age.
As Bone and Joint Health Action Week comes to a close, we want to share tips to keep your bones and joints in top shape:
- Be Active – that could mean taking a walk, doing chores around the house or even dancing. Whatever you can do to keep from being sedentary, do it. If you can’t walk outside, walk in your house or go to a local mall and walk around it. Just have fun! The more you enjoy what you are doing, the more you’ll do it.
- Strengthening Exercise – Don’t think of a body builder when you hear strength training! You could even use cans of food from your pantry to lift if they are heavy enough for you. But strength training helps to strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
- Aerobic Exercise – Whether you run, walk, climb or dance, aerobic exercise can get your heart revved up and will help build bone and keep joints healthy.
Make sure you consult with your physician before beginning any kind of exercise regimen.
At Assisting Hands® Home Care, many of our skilled caregivers are physical therapists and can help the seniors in our care keep active. We don’t want them to just sit in front of the television; we would rather have them enjoying themselves and staying as active as they can be. Whether you need someone to be with your loved one during the day, in the evening or overnight, our at-home care can accommodate your needs. You will have peace of mind knowing that they aren’t home alone when they need help with medication, fall prevention, personal care, eating or other needs.
Contact us today to schedule your free in-home fall prevention assessment at (630) 352-assistinghands.com/3656/chicagoland-naperville/”>click here.