In-Home Physio; Helping Senior Citizens With Their Aches and Gains
In our digital-centric world, people are buying online at an accelerated pace – you can practically order and have anything delivered to your home nowadays. Research shows that 2.64 billion people are shopping online in 2023. In 2025, this figure is projected to reach nearly 2.80 billion people!
So, what’s driving this growth? A convenient shopping experience; 83% of consumers cite this as more essential today than it was five years ago.
A similar trend is evident in the world of physiotherapy, via the concept of in-home physio. This is especially true among the senior population, not just because of the added convenience that it provides but also due to several other benefits which it presents:
1. Improved Mobility
If your parents ever said “Wait til you get to my age,” you probably thought it was a universal expression that all adults recited as a rite of passage to be considered qualified parents. Yet, as you get older, the desire to reverse time becomes more understandable… especially when something as routine as getting out of bed becomes that much more difficult.
Unfortunately, a natural part of the aging process is a decline in muscle mass and strength. It can be more severe for certain people as a condition called ‘sarcopenia’ affects 5-13% of patients above the age of 60 and 11-50% of those aged above 80. This can lead to reduced mobility and difficulties in performing daily activities that require physical strength.
So, if you think it’s tough to get out of bed in your thirties, forties, or fifties, think again… it only gets tougher – but a proven solution like in-home physiotherapy can ease this burden.
With seniors often facing mobility challenges due to aging, injury, or medical conditions, in-home physio is useful for not only improving strength, balance, and flexibility but also for helping seniors regain and maintain their ability to move around safely and independently.
2. Managing Chronic Pain
More than seven million Canadians are estimated to be living with chronic pain. While this condition affects all people of all ages, seniors are particularly prone to dealing with it as a result of musculoskeletal (MSK) and neurodegenerative ailments.
In-home physiotherapy can aid seniors in better managing chronic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular issues. Therapists can design exercise programs and lifestyle modifications, and ensure adherence to improve a patient’s overall health and mitigate the impact of such conditions.
Let’s consider, for instance, a senior with chronic pain caused by MSK conditions. A patient who is facing such ailments will have their mobility and dexterity significantly limited. However, a qualified therapist can visit the patient’s home regularly to incorporate pain management techniques like manual therapy, modalities like acupuncture and other therapeutic exercises to alleviate discomfort and enhance daily functioning.
The best part? If your parent is the patient in this scenario, an in-home physiotherapist affords you the luxury of not having to take time off work to drive them to an appointment. And another perk is that you don’t have to listen to the infamous “Wait til you get to my age” phrase.
3. Fall Prevention
Speaking of age, when you’re young, it’s easy to take things for granted
For example, your balance.
Approximately 20-30% of Canadian seniors experience one or more falls each year, the leading cause of injury among this demographic. To make matters worse, falling once doubles your chances of falling again and this often results in injuries that can impact quality of life.
In-home physiotherapy can include exercises and strategies to not only improve balance, coordination, and stability but also to reduce the risk of falls.
Gait training is one method which can help achieve this as it enables a physiotherapist to assess and correct a patient’s walking patterns and posture, all within the comfort of their home. This is beneficial for improving the way seniors walk, reducing the risk of falls, and enhancing overall mobility.
The Bottom Line
These are just a few of the benefits which seniors can expect from in-home physiotherapy and the truth is, it doesn’t take data to know that everyone appreciates convenience as they get older. When it’s difficult to walk, let alone stand, in-home physiotherapy provides an unparalleled convenience which makes it the ideal choice for seniors.
1. https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/how-many-people-shop-online
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23167-sarcopenia
3. https://www.allseniorscare.com/blog/7-ways-seniors-can-manage-chronic-pain/
4. https://agesafecanada.ca/fall-prevention/
5. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html