Fighting Frailty

So many of us are very aware of our age and our changing bodies as we age. At 33, there are things I notice about my body that are just a bit different than they were 10 years ago. BUT there are so many things about my body that I’m proud of, and I want that to continue to be the case. 

My primary focus regarding keeping my body healthy is keeping it strong. I’m fighting frailty everyday with every workout I do. Every rep, every set, every step.

What is frailty? Frailty is a common and clinically significant grouping of symptoms that occurs in aging and older adults. These symptoms can include decreased physical abilities such as walking, excessive fatigue, and weight and muscle loss leading to declined physical status, according to wikipedia. In general, the more frail we become with age, the more dependent we are on others and the less enjoyable life is. 

There are ways to grade or score a person’s level of frailty. We look at Fried’s Frailty Phenotype, a list of criteria. The higher you score on this list, the more frail you might be. 

How many of these boxes do you check?

• Muscular weakness
• Physical Inactivity 
• Fatigue and lethargy 
• Slow gait speed
• Unexpected weight loss

If you have 0 of these traits, you are robust! If you check 1-2 of these boxes, you are pre-frail, and if you check 3 or more, you are frail. 

Here’s the good news. It’s never too late to change your situation. You can improve your frailty status and increase your independence as you age! If you are pre-frail, you can be robust! And if you are frail, we can get you to pre frail! You can feel less exhausted by normal daily tasks, decrease your risk for injury and falls, and enjoy life more. 

If you are a loved one could use some help in this area, give us a call!

Dr. Rachel Atufunwa PT, DPT