How To Identify Age-related Aches And Pains?
How to know if your aches and pains are age-related or not. Is it just because I am getting old? Nearly every patient I see over the age of 55 with chronic joint pain will ask me “Is there anything you can do for (this injury), or is it just me getting old?” While it…
How The 3 Common Myths About Exercise And The Elderly Affect Quality Life
There are several commonly held myths and misconceptions about exercise and the elderly that can hinder progress and discourage individuals from pursuing a healthier lifestyle. I ran across this post on social media last week and it triggered me. I have 4 boys aged 18, 16, 14, and 12. One day they will have kids…
2 Easy Physical Fitness Tests for Older Adults
Stay Active and Independent: 2 Easy At-Home Physical Fitness Tests for Over 55 The other day I was talking to a patient who was getting frustrated with how slow she was walking. “I used to walk so much faster and now I’m having a hard time keeping up with my walking group,” she told…
9 reasons why staying social is vitally important as we age
Here are 9 reasons why staying social is vitally important as we age. Oh, let’s talk about the importance of staying social as you age! Imagine friendships as little rays of sunshine that keep your life’s garden blooming. It’s not just about having someone to chat with; staying social has some real-deal benefits that can…
The Positive Side of Aging: How to deal with getting older
Have you ever felt that “getting older is the worst”? Wished you thought it was a gift? Is there really a positive side to aging? Something I used to hear my patients say in my former clinic with so many dealing with age-related joint pain is some form of “aging is the worst”! “It sucks…
Why is exercise worth it?
One obstacle a lot of older adults face as they consider starting exercise programs is wondering whether or not is exercise worth it. Wondering if putting in all the work at the possibility of getting stronger will even make a difference or said differently, “Is the juice worth the squeeze?” Because it’s a lot…
How much exercise do I need?
How Much Exercise Do You Really Need? I recently spoke to a 62-year-old woman who came in to see me because she had pain in both shoulders that was getting increasingly worse over the past 2 years. She tried some stretches but still got her low-grade ache at night. It was one of those pains…
Top 5 benefits of exercise for people over 55
What are the benefits of exercise? “I just hate exercise, and I hate that I hate exercise.” A patient recently told me when I was asking about how she was doing with her home exercises. We both shared a laugh. But then she said, “No but seriously, if I had just been better about exercising…
Hip Pain Radiating Down The Front Of Your Leg? Here Are 3 Common Causes
Hip pain can be debilitating, making it hard to move around and complete everyday tasks. This hip pain can be even more discouraging when it extends down the front of your leg. However, understanding the possible causes of hip pain that radiates down the front of your leg can help you find the right treatment…
How Much Exercise Do Older Adults Need: Essential Exercise Recommendations for Older Adults
In my line of work as a physical therapist specializing in exercises for older adults to help individuals over 40 stay active and independent, I often come across stories that highlight the importance of maintaining our physical health. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with a 62-year-old woman who sought my help due to…
