Rehabilitation for Aging and Frailty

    Frailty refers to the gradual loss of normal physiological function and decreased agility and flexibility due to the continuous degeneration of the whole body, which is also likely to lead to accidents such as illness or falls. Significant, observable indicators include of aging and frailty include slower walking speed, reduced hand grip strength, easy fatigue, weight loss, and reduced physical activity.

    The majority of the aging population is usually worried about developing osteoporosis. Diagnosis for osteoporosis can only be determined by a bone density examination. Because the disease does not present with obvious symptoms, patients often discover they have osteoporosis only after a fall accident causing a fracture.

    Sarcopenia, or muscle loss and atrophy associated with aging, is another phenomenon often seen in the clinical setting. In addition to changes in posture (hunched back), changes in walking posture, and insufficient muscle strength to carry out activities of daily living, sarcopenia can also cause unrelenting pain for weeks, such as shoulder or back pain after seemingly harmless activities like carrying groceries or preparing food.

    In the aging population, bone loss and muscle weakness increase the mortality rate after fractures following a fall incident. From the age of 35, our muscle mass will decrease by approximately 6% every decade, and by the age of 70, only 60% of the muscle mass from our early 20’s will be remaining. Maintaining adequate physical activity is the only way to maintain sufficient muscle mass, flexibility, and coordination of our body, reducing the risk of falls and other accidents. By nourishing our muscles, we can help strengthen our bones and gain the benefits of better mobility and function in life.