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Physical Therapy Tips for Caregivers of Elderly Adults
August 14, 2023
Rehabilitative therapy is one of the most-often recommended treatments for elderly adults who are recuperating from an illness, surgery, or an injury. Physical exercise is one of the treatments frequently prescribed by physicians for a number of conditions and can help with chronic pain as well. Elderly adults who need to be beneficial it requires determination and time. Caregivers who are helping an elderly adult go through physical therapy will benefit from the tips below.
Make Certain that Appointments are Kept
Each physical therapy visit is important. This is how the therapist tracks the progress that is being made. It may be necessary to the fullest. When an appointment is missed it can reverse the progress that has been made.
Keep Track of the Progress
Keep a record of the progress being made by your elderly loved one. The record can help their physical therapist so they can adjust any of the exercises as needed. It can also help motivate elderly adults by allowing them to keep their appointments and complete the exercises they are doing at home.
Home Therapy Programs
Physical therapists often recommend exercises for your loved one to their regular appointments, their chances of recovering their strength or recuperating from an illness or surgery increases.
Be Observant
Physical therapy is very beneficial for your loved one to do the exercises as well.
Support is Essential
Physical therapy can be tiring and demanding. It is not abnormal for elderly adults too bossy or overbearing.
Celebrate Success
Celebrate each accomplishment with elderly adult loved ones as they go through physical therapy. Just as important as supporting them, celebrating is a good way to let them know you are proud of their hard work and accomplishments.
About the Author
Dr. Lev Kalika is a world-recognized expert in musculoskeletal ultrasonography, with 20+ years of clinical experience in advanced rehabilitative medicine. In addition to operating his clinical practice in Manhattan, he regularly publishes peer-reviewed research on ultrasound-guided therapies and procedures.
Dr. Kalika is an esteemed member of the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment ((SMST), and the only clinician in New York certified by the ISMST to perform extracorporeal shockwave therapy. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM), and has developed his own unique approach to dynamic functional and fascial ultrasonography.
In this instance, an athlete was originally diagnosed with minor quadriceps muscle strain and was treated for four weeks, with unsatisfactory results. When he came to our clinic, the muscle was not healing, and the patients’ muscle tissue had already begun to atrophy.
Upon examination using MSUS, we discovered that he had a full muscle thickness tear that had been overlooked by his previous provider. To mitigate damage and promote healing, surgery should have been performed immediately after the injury occurred. Because of misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, the patient now has permanent damage that cannot be corrected.
The most important advantage of Ultrasound over MRI imaging is its ability to zero in on the symptomatic region and obtain imaging, with active participation and feedback from the patient. Using dynamic MSUS, we can see what happens when patients contract their muscles, something that cannot be done with MRI. From a diagnostic perspective, this interaction is invaluable.
Dynamic ultrasonography examination demonstrating the full thickness tear and already occurring muscle atrophy due to misdiagnosis and not referring the patient to proper diagnostic workup
Demonstration of how very small muscle defect is made and revealed to be a complete tear with muscle contraction under diagnostic sonography (not possible with MRI)
Complete tear of rectus femoris with large hematoma (blood)
Separation of muscle ends due to tear elicited on dynamic sonography examination
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