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The psychomotricity is a non-pharmacological discipline and under the umbrella of Occupational Therapy which acts on four main axes: motor, cognitive, affective and social both at an early age and in the elderly. It is therefore a type of therapy planned and developed by psychomotor specialists with the purpose of making the person improve in each of the aforementioned aspects.
As a consequence of aging, the elderly person begins a journey characterized, mainly, by a cognitive, physical, motor and emotional impairment that has a strong impact on the normal development of their day to day, on their functional and sensory capacities, on their self-esteem or on their interest in social relationships.
Thanks to psychomotricity, the impact of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, depression or fracture injuries can be prevented or reduced.
However, it is important to note that these limitations can be eased or slowed down its evolution through healthy aging in which, due to the matter at hand, the psychomotor specialist with theoretical-practical and social knowledge, thanks to which he will be able to plan and execute a specific program, will gain special importance.
Objectives and benefits of psychomotricity in the elderly
Between the objectives and benefits The main things that should be worked on with psychomotricity are:
- Development of a healthy aging in the motor, the psychic and the affective.
- Enhancement of functional and cognitive capacities in favor of user autonomy.
- Improved mobility, static and dynamic balance, and muscle development.
- Control of breathing and application of techniques that promote relaxation.
- Development of communication skills and facility to establish personal relationships.
- Promote self-esteem and positivity in the face of this new stage and the changes / situations that derive from it.
As we have previously mentioned, psychomotricity is a therapy that acts on four large areas of the person by empowering and stimulating the following areas: breathing, psychomotor development, posture and balance, flexibility, orientation, communication, memoryamong other.
Likewise, thanks to psychomotricity it is possible to prevent or reduce the impact of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, depression or injuries caused by various fractures.
Activities developed in psychomotricity for the elderly
When developing the activity program, the psychomotor specialist must take into account the following aspects in the elderly person: cardiovascular resistance, respiratory capacity, flexibility and mobility, cognitive and functional state, learning capacity, among others.
Taking into account the objectives set and the psychomotor study previously carried out on the elderly person, among the activities that make up the psychomotor intervention program include: gymnastics, dance, sensory games, crafts, relaxation exercises or cooperative exercises.
It is recommended that these activities have a maximum duration of one hour and are carried out in groups of between ten and fifteen people who present similar capacities and limitations for the workshop to develop normally. In addition, the program must be properly structured and balanced to avoid early fatigue or apathy in the user.
It is important that the psychomotorist take into account the following recommendations for the workshop to develop optimally and the eldest feels fulfilled:
- The psychomotorist should avoid routine and plan a dynamic program,
- The psychomotrician must use understandable language and treat all users equally,
- The psychomotrician must ensure the individual and collective well-being of the attendees,
- The activities cannot endanger the elderly,
- Avoid complex movements
- between one exercise and another it is advisable to take a short break,
- You have to alternate between dynamic exercises and more leisurely exercises,
- To carry out exercises in pairs, the capacities of the users will be taken into account for their configuration,
- The space must be clean, spacious and bright,
- It is advisable to end the session with a time in which the elderly present their feelings after the workshop.
Given the importance of psychomotricity in the life of the elderly, this discipline is increasingly present in day centers for the elderly, as in those of STIMA Seniorswhich are made up of gerontological and psychomotor professionals who prepare a specific activity program that takes into account the characteristics of each individual, their pathologies and the objectives to be achieved.