When 89-year-old Dharmendra Shared Glimpses From His Physiotherapy Session; Experts Share Its Benefits For Elderly

Bollywood superstar Dharmendra’s fans, all over the world, are worried about their beloved actor’s health. The star has been admitted to Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital since Monday. Though his death rumours shooked the nation this morning, Dharmendra’s family has quashed them and declared that he is now ‘stable’.

The superstar, who turned 89 last December, has been pretty active in the industry. His last superhit movie was Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Despite being in his 80s, how did the actor remain fit and keep working? Well, Dharmendra had earlier shared that he owes his fitness to exercise and yoga. In April this year, he shared that his fitness routine has a latest addition — physiotherapy. Today, let us rewind and take a look at Dharmendra’s physiotherapy session.

To get a better understanding of why physiotherapy is beneficial for the elderly, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to experts — Dr Bal Mukund Jha, HOD Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram and Dr Gurpreet Singh (PT), Director of Rehabilitation, Everbloom Healthcare Pvt Ltd.

Also Read: When Dharmendra Underwent A Corneal Transplantation: Exploring The Eye Surgery

Throwback: A Glimpse Into Dharmendra’s Physiotherapy Session

Dharmendra is active on social media. He keeps sharing glimpses from his swimming or gym sessions. After one of his gym session videos went viral, the actor posted a clip from his physiotherapy session in April this year. In the caption, he wrote: “Friends, with your good wishes and his blessings I am working hard to be fit and fine. yoga, exercise and now physiotherapy. I am grateful to dear Amit kohli my physiotherapist. Love you all, Take care.”

In the video, the Sholay star was seen lying on a bed. His physiotherapist was seen helping him with leg rotations, using a foot stretcher strap. Dharmendra was seen successfully completing multiple forward and reverse rotations.

Check out the video here:

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dharmendra Deol (@aapkadharam)

Why Physiotherapy Is Important For Seniors

Dr Jha explains why physiotherapy is beneficial to the elderly. “It serves to maintain mobility, independence, and quality of life in elderly people. As age advances, muscles grow weaker, joints become stiffer, and balance deteriorates — all these factors increase the risk of falls and injuries. Regular physiotherapy helps preserve strength, flexibility, and coordination. It also supports better posture, pain management (especially for arthritis or back pain), and improves circulation and lung capacity,” shares the expert.

He adds, “After 60, the body naturally loses muscle mass and joint flexibility. Physiotherapy helps this decline to be slowed down, allowing seniors to stay active, independent, and pain-free for longer.”

How Physiotherapy Helps Elderly Individuals

On this note, Dr Jha jots down the benefits of physiotherapy for seniors:

• Improves balance and prevents falls: Specific exercises enhance stability and reduce the risk of fall-related injuries.
• Manages pain: Helps ease chronic pain caused by arthritis, spondylosis, or osteoporosis.
• Enhances mobility and flexibility: Restores joint movement and makes daily tasks easier.
• Boosts recovery: Supports rehabilitation after surgeries, fractures, or prolonged illness.
• Improves overall well-being: Regular sessions can uplift mood and promote better sleep and confidence.

“It helps improve overall well-being, wherein regular sessions uplift one's mood, improve sleep, and instill more confidence,” he adds.

“Overall, regular physiotherapy improves confidence in movement, supports emotional well-being, and enhances daily functional activities like walking, climbing stairs, bathing, and dressing,” explains Dr Singh.

Safety Tips For Elderly People During Physiotherapy

Dr Singh talks about the safety protocols, which seniors must follow. “Safety is always the priority. Hence, every session should be tailored to the individual’s health, ability, and medical history. Seniors should avoid pushing beyond their comfort level and not overdo it. They must inform the therapist if they feel pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Patients must wear supportive footwear, stay hydrated, and make sure the environment is safe, especially during balance exercises. If there is any change in medication, blood pressure, or cardiac symptoms, it should be communicated in advance,” he shares.

Dr Jha lists some safety tips, which every elderly person can follow during their physiotherapy sessions. Take a look.

• Always begin a physiotherapy session after a thorough medical assessment and doctor’s clearance.
• Sessions should be personalised — considering heart conditions, bone density, balance issues, or medications.
• Avoid overexertion; exercises must be pain-free and within comfort limits.
• Stay hydrated and wear comfortable clothing and supportive footwear.
• Stop immediately if you feel dizziness, pain, or fatigue.

Also Read: Joint Hyperlaxity In Women: When Flexibility Becomes A Disability

Other Beneficial Exercises For Seniors

Dr Jha says that there isn’t one universal exercise that is the best for seniors, rather a combination of these works best:

• Walking: Excellent for heart health and stamina.
• Strength training: Light resistance with bands or weights to maintain muscle mass.
• Balance training: Simple movements like heel-to-toe walking to reduce fall risk.
• Stretching and flexibility exercises: For joint health and posture.
• Breathing and relaxation exercises: To support lung function and mental calmness.

The Final Word

Physiotherapy is beneficial to the elderly as it serves to maintain mobility, independence, and quality of life in elderly people. But one should also take safety precautions like going through a medical assessment and doctor’s clearance before starting physiotherapy.