According to the Organization, one in six people in the world will be over 65 by mid-century, against one in 11 expected for 2019. In Brazil, the number of elderly people has increased by almost 40% in nine years, according to the ‘IBGE. With the aging of the population it is necessary to ensure a better quality of life for this age group and physiotherapy treatment can be an ally, evaluates an expert
Data from World Population Prospectspublished by United Nations Organization (UN), show that by 2050, one in six people in the world will be over 65, reaching 16% of the world’s population. In 2019, people of this age were one in 11 and represented 9% of the population. In Europe and North America, by the middle of this century, one in four people living in both regions will be 65 or older. And the number of people aged 80 and over is expected to triple, from 143 million in 2019 to 426 million in 27 years.
In Brazil, second disclosed data by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) last year, people aged 60 and older accounted for 14.7 percent of the population in 2021, corresponding to 31.23 million people. In nine years the number of elderly people has increased by 39.8% and, according to the Institute’s data, there is a downward trend in the share of the country’s young population. In 2012, when the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (PNAD Continuous) began, 49.9% of residents in Brazil were under 30 years old. In 2021 this percentage was 43.9%.
The aging of the population, in addition to requiring investment in public policies to serve the over 60 age group, will also require double attention, above all by health professionals. With six years of experience in the rehabilitation of the elderly, the physiotherapist Vinicius Luiz Guimarães Sebastião comments that some precautions are essential to maintain the quality of life of people who have already reached the so-called “old age”.
The practitioner explains that all physiological functions of the body are decreased in the aging process and with muscle, heart and lung functions it is no different. According to him, the decreased activity of these three systems has a direct impact on the strength, function and mobility of the elderly, leading to early fatigue when performing tasks that require greater energy expenditure.
“In this scenario, the physical therapist develops exercise plans based on prior assessment, such as aerobic exercises with the goal of re-establishing and increasing heart and lung conditioning, resistance exercises, which aim to promote increased muscle gain and strength , plus stretching exercises to maintain good flexibility, by the way,” she says.
Prevention and better response to falls in the elderly
One study published in the Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia found that, from 2000 to 2019, 135,209 deaths of elderly people due to falls were identified. In conclusion, the authors of the study, researchers from four public universities, stated that an increasing trend of elderly mortality related to this reason is observed and that lines of care aimed at health promotion and prevention of the risk of falls are needed.
Physiotherapist Vinicius Sebastião says physical therapy is important to prevent serious problems and even mortality from falls. He notes that falls are often followed by secondary complications such as head injuries and trauma, fractures, and the development of a fear of future falls. According to what has already been observed in assistance to the elderly, falls are usually linked to physical factors, typical of the elderly, and to environmental factors, which can be avoided.
“There are multifactorial problems such as loss of stride speed, decreased reaction time, decreased muscle strength and power production, as well as external factors, such as poorly lit environments and/or many objects placed on the floor, pets living indoors, ‘inside the house, carpets near the stairs and use of inappropriate shoes,” he points out.
According to the professional, in these scenarios the physiotherapist works by creating strategies to prevent future falls. “First we identify the external risk factors and carry out activities to raise awareness and educate the patient and the family about the assistance measures. adds.
Treatment combined with prevention and cure for depression
In addition to exercises to help improve physical condition and to prevent falls and their consequences, physical therapy treatment can also mitigate the effects of depression. Vinicius Sebastião explains for the treatment against the disease, the physiotherapy professional must be part of the multidisciplinary patient care team.
“Respiratory and muscular exercises, stretching sessions and massages aim to improve the quality of life of elderly patients, improving self-esteem and relieving pain. These techniques can be enhanced if performed in a group, promoting patient socialization, allowing sharing their experiences and favoring the re-establishment of their social life”, he underlines.
Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinicius-luiz-77a5b9250/
Source: Terra
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