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Frailty and Debility Physiotherapy

Frailty is a syndrome of overall body weakness resulting in a loss of

• strength
• flexibility
• balance
• endurance

This unfortunately leads to an inability to perform everyday activities, such as preparing meals, washing, dressing, or caring for a family member.

Debility, on the other hand, is the loss of the ability to move around normally, or productively, in one’s home and community.

Typically, frailty and debility occur in people who have not moved their bodies for an extended period of time. In the elderly population in the United States, people develop frailty at a rate of 9.6%.

There is a condition called “prefrailty” which develops in 47% of the elderly population. 

Frankly, young people are not excluded from this. They also can become frail and debilitated from trauma, disease, chronic pain, or any reduction in physical activity.

Among critical care patients in hospitals (patients warded in intensive care units, or have been hospitalized for an extended period of time), up to 30% are found to be frail.

Patients who have diabetes and coronary artery disease at midlife are more likely to become frail as they age.

Our senior physiotherapists help individuals experiencing frailty and debility restore their

• strength
• flexibility
• endurance
• balance
• overall mobility
• reduce chronic pain
• improve their daily function

What are Frailty and Debility?

When a person’s body does not move for a long period of time, he or she will gradually decline and suffer loss of strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, and mobility (the ability to move easily and perform common activities).

Specific problems that can result are:

• Muscles become smaller, weaker, and tighter (known as “sarcopenia”)
• Joints become stiffer
• Heart and lung function (cardiovascular system) weakens
• The natural sense of balance malfunctions

Frail people often are scared or reluctant to perform activities that make them tired and avoid doing them, which increases their frailty over time. Most of the time, frail people do not understand or takes actions to improve their condition, so they continue being inactive.

The risk of becoming frail increases in people aged 80 or older because they often reduce their physical activity due to:

• Chronic pain
• Fatigue from medications or diseases
• Fear of discomfort or pain
• Disinterest
• Inactivity
• Lack of understanding of how aging can cause frailty
• Lack of understanding of the importance of physical activity at all ages

Younger people also can suffer frailty and debility, if they have been inactive or on bed rest for a period of time due to illness, surgery, sedentary or injury.

When a person becomes frail or debilitated from lack of movement, he or she is at a greater risk of falling and suffering injuries that can lead to hospitalization, disability, and death.

Signs and Symptoms

Someone who suffers from frailty or debility may experience:

• Severe fatigue, weakness, or exhaustion
• Low energy
• Difficulty standing, sitting, or walking
• Difficulty getting out of bed or out of a chair, without help
• Difficulty walking
• Inability to perform simple household tasks
• Fear of losing one’s balance and falling
• Inability to work
• Inability to socialize with friends and family

How Is It Diagnosed?

Frailty and debility can be diagnosed by your doctor or by our senior physiotherapists. We will conduct a thorough examination to determine your:

• Strength
• Flexibility
• Balance
• Endurance
• Mobility

The physical therapy examination will include questions about your

• health
• symptoms
• how well you move around
• hands-on physical testing and observation of your movements

how our senior physiotherapists can help

Our senior physiotherapists help frail or debilitated individuals gradually improve their activity levels.

We will design a treatment program based on your specific condition to help you regain the stamina and endurance needed to return to enjoyable and important daily physical activities. We will work with you to safely get you moving again.

We will help you:

Reduce pain

Physical therapy treatment is a safe way to treat chronic pain.We  may use different types of treatments and technologies to control and reduce your pain. Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce pain, and we will choose the most effective and safe exercises for you to do.

Improve motion

We will choose specific activities and treatments to help restore normal movement. These might begin with "passive" motions that the physical therapist performs for you to gently move your joints, and progress to “active” exercises and stretches that you can do yourself.

Improve flexibility

We will determine if any muscles are tight, begin to gently stretch them, and teach you how to stretch them.

Improve strength

We will choose and teach you the correct exercises and equipment to use, to steadily and safely restore your strength.

Improve endurance

Regaining your muscular endurance is important. We will teach you exercises to improve endurance, so you can return to your normal activities.

Improve balance

Regaining your sense of balance is important to prevent falling. We will teach you exercises to improve your balance ability.

Return to activities.

We will discuss activity goals with you and use them to set your recovery goals. Your treatment program will help you reach your goals in the safest, fastest, and most effective way possible.

Educate your family

We can educate both you and your family about the negative effects of prolonged sitting and bed rest, and about ways to prevent and limit frailty.

Modify your home for safety

We will help you and your family reduce hazards in the home that could increase your risk of falling.

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Phoenix Rehab Physio Services

Phoenix Rehab Group works with specialist physiotherapists and rehab therapists who are highly trained, qualified, experienced and passionate to provide high level of expert care to our patients.

PHYSIOTHERAPY & PHYSICAL THERAPY

• Muscle, Bone & Joint Pains Physiotherapy
• Back and Neck (Spinal / Spine) Pain Physio
• Sports Physio
• Post-surgery Physio
  

• Shoulder Pain Physio
• Foot Pain Physio
  
• Women's Health Physio
• Dry Needling Physio
• Elbow Pain Physio
• Hip Pain Physio

• Knee Pain Physio
• Computerized Spinal Decompression Traction
• Pain Relief Physiotherapy
• Shockwave Therapy
  

See all the conditions our principal physiotherapists treat.

HAND THERAPY & CUSTOMIZED SPLINTING

Patients who sustained injuries to their elbows, forearms, hands, wrists (sprains and fractures) and fingers, usually will benefit / require Hand Therapy to

1. manage and decrease hand pains
2. improve range of motion, strength and dexterity
3. increase the function of their hand following injuries or post-operations

Commonly treated hand pain injuries includes

• wrist sprains and wrist fractures
• thumb sprains, finger fractures and finger dislocations
• repetitive strain injuries such as de Quervain's tenosynovitis (mummy's thumb), carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow and more.
• See all the conditions our hand therapists treat here.
• Fabricate thermoplastic custom made hand splints

REFORMER CLINICAL PILATES & WELLNESS PILATES

Clinical Pilates is a form of physical exercise that focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing.

It is a system of safe and effective exercises, which meet specific individual needs, to treat a wide range of injuries and conditions.

You may do Pilates as matwork or with the reformer or both, and every session will be customized 100% to your fitness, injury and tolerance.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM)

• Pain Management TCM
• Acupuncture TCM
• Gua Sha TCM 

• Cupping TCM
• Auricular Therapy TCM
• Herbal TCM Medicine & Supplementation

DEEP TISSUE RELEASE & SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY

Sports and deep tissue release massage helps to increase nutrient-rich blood flow to tired, tight and tense muscles to accelerate recovery and  shorten downtime / recovery period required.

It also prevents muscles from scar tissue micro-tears (and potential ruptures), and increases muscle performance. Having regular deep tissue and sports massage will keep your muscles healthy and fit with body/movement-confidence.

Read the benefits of regular deep tissue release therapy here.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

• Craniosacral Therapy
• SomatoEmotional Release
• Visceral Manipulation (VM)
• Lymphatic Drainage (LDT)
• Facilitated Stretch Therapy (FST)

All our allied health therapists and TCM physicians are fully insured and registered with Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board (TCMB).

See our entire team here with introductions and their specializations.

At the first session, our specialist physiotherapists will carry out a thorough assessment, helping them to select the most appropriate treatment to help you recover as well as provide treatment in the same session.

Follow up sessions are inline to provide expert treatment for your pain as well as prescribing specific exercises to reduce your risk of re-injury and giving you a long term solution.

do Tell Your Family, Friends And Colleagues About Us =)

We appreciate you as our valued clients and want you to know that the # 1 way we grow as a clinic / brand is through word of mouth referrals from valued patients like yourself.

We prefer not to rely on advertising - instead, we prefer and appreciate the goodwill and positive reinforcement from patients. When you have the chance, please tell your family, friends and physicians about the positive results and experience you have had in our physio clinics.

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