SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Ivanhoe Newswire) – A game-changing program is rewriting the rules of senior health – it’s called ArthroFit – it’s helping seniors quickly bounce back after surgery and has them feeling better than ever; some liken it to the fountain of youth.
Watching Ruth Norton work her way around the gym, you’d never guess her age, and you’d never guess she’s had a double-knee replacement surgery.
“The day after surgery, they had me walking and had me doing stairs. I healed very fast and it was because of the pre-surgery exercises,” Ruth recalls.
The 72-year-old is a living example of how ArthroFit – an arthritis program at Intermountain Health – is getting seniors back on their feet and feeling great after surgery.
Dale Aguirre, head of ArthroFit at Intermountain Health says, “What I always say is, ‘Motion is lotion.’ And so, the more they can get out there and move, the better off they’re going to feel, and that’s a concept that a lot of people don’t have, they feel like they need to rest.”
Aguirre says research shows strengthening the muscles before surgery, and keeping them moving after, is the secret to keeping arthritis and joint pain in check.
“They have better outcomes, they feel better, they recover faster. And that allows them to do another joint or just get back to life activities,” Aguirre explains.
For Norton, it’s been like finding the fountain of youth.
“Just enjoying life with no holds. I don’t have to stop myself from something, and it’s because of this program,” she exclaims.
The ArthroFit trainers aren’t your average gym trainers – each one specializes in rehab for older patients with mobility issues.
Contributors to this news report include: Jessica Sanchez, Producer; Kirk Manson, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
To receive a free weekly e-mail on medical breakthroughs from Ivanhoe, sign up at: http://www.ivanhoe.com/ftk
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TOPIC: ARTHROFIT: THE NEW FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH?
REPORT: MB #5289
BACKGROUND: In the United States, seniors make up 40 percent of people who under surgeries. Most seniors undergo surgery for things like a broken hip, fixing blood flow in the heart, removing gallbladders, and repairing hernias. Recovery for seniors can depend on their age and the type of surgery they had, but on average, it takes a senior between six weeks and six months to fully recover.
DIAGNOSING: When a senior should get surgery is ultimately up to their doctor, but it’s important to know signs and symptoms of different issues that could be solved with surgery. Some symptoms of a broken hip are: inability to get up or walk, severe pain in the hip or groin, and/or bruising or swelling around the hip area. Some symptoms of needing to repair a hernia are: swelling, aching or burning in a bulging area, pressure or weakness in the groin area, vomiting, heartburn, and/or trouble swallowing. Doctors can diagnose these issues with an X-ray, MRI, or a CT scan.
(Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hip-fracture/symptoms-causes/syc-20373468
https://www.griswoldhomecare.com/blog/2022/august/hernias-in-the-elderly-are-hernias-life-threaten/
NEW TECHNOLOGY: ArthroFit is a physical therapy at Intermountain Health that is helping seniors recover quicker from surgery. Each session lasts 60 minutes and uses a variety of techniques and exercises, like aerobic conditioning, flexibility and stretching, and strength training. Intermountain Health says the key to a quick recovery is participating in the program before surgery and then continuing right after.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Glen Beeby
If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com
