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coordination and balance; and, for those
who exercise with a group, providing the
necessary mental stimulation and social
engagements that help stave off depression
and anxiety.
Muscles and Bones The physicians at Wilmington
Orthopaedic Group treat a large
number of seniors for injuries to
and rehabilitation of their bones
and joints. Dr. Dax Steele, the most recent
addition to the group, specializes in hip and
knee reconstruction, procedures often asso-ciated
with seniors.
Dr. Steele says that in seniors, some
of the biggest factors regarding bone and
joint injury are previous injuries that have
worsened over time; the normal wear and
tear associated with aging; and accidental
injury, including falls, sprains and tears.
New treatment options for prior injuries are
developing quickly, becoming less invasive
and more durable. Both factors, he says,
help recipients of joint replacements and
arthroscopic surgeries recover faster and
maintain a high quality of life longer.
With the normal wear and tear associ-ated
with aging comes the development of
arthritis (the loss of cartilage on and around
joints) and issues like osteoporosis (the
loss of calcium in the bones). Dr. Steele
says that medications treating both condi-tions
are advancing rapidly and treatment
methods change as new research is brought
to light. “With osteoporosis, where the loss
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of estrogen after menopause causes bones
to lose calcium at an accelerated pace, the
standard treatment was hormone replace-ment
therapy. Now, new medications
forego the introduction of estrogen and
instead help the bones retain calcium,” he
says.
According to Dr. Steele, many of the
accidental injuries common among seniors
could be avoided by exercising more,
as well as more cautiously. Dr. Steele’s
thoughts on exercise are twofold: If you
don’t exercise, start; the benefits to balance,
Beth Connell of Bodies in Balance works with Alice O’Neill on her balance and coordination.
“When dizziness goes away and balance is restored,
patients feel more confident. They work harder and
show faster improvements, motivated by the positive
changes they see.” — Beth Connell