Tuesday October 10, 2023, is World Mental Health Day. Mental health disorders impact everyone from children to older adults. Approximately 15% of adults 60+ have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Depression and anxiety are the most common diagnoses and can present in many ways. It is often under-diagnosed and even when diagnosed, often under-treated in the primary care settings especially when experienced by older adults. Older people have many life stressors including the loss of loved ones, a drop in socioeconomic status with retirement, and decline in physical and/or cognitive abilities. All these changes can increase isolation and loneliness.
Your PT Can't Do Your Exercise For You
If you've been to physical therapy, you likely got a home exercise program. Research says that if you do your home exercise program, you'll have a significantly better chance of meeting your goals and feeling better. Not doing your program increases the risk of recurrent injury or flare-ups with less positive outcomes long term. Even though they're important, adherence to home exercise programs is terrible. It's estimated that only 40 to 50% of patients do their exercises the way they're supposed to. What can you do to make sure you do your exercises and get the best outcomes? Here are a few ideas.