Chiropractic care is extremely important for the maturing and elderly adult because of the dramatic changes that occur in the spine with increasing age. As we age, spinal discs, facet joints, ligaments, muscles and other spinal tissues become weaker, less hydrated, more fibrotic, and less able to withstand normal stresses. As a result, spinal pain from spinal degeneration (arthritis) becomes more prominent, tissue injury from relatively benign events occurs, and the time to heal from injuries increases.
Chiropractic procedures take into consideration the nature of the aging spine and the many abnormalities present to provide a strategically effective, safe and noninvasive treatment plan. Through the use of gentle adjustive and mobilization techniques and incorporation of stretching and exercise programs spinal pain is reduced, spinal stresses on the nerves are decreased, flexibility and mobility are improved, and degeneration is minimized.
Treatment techniques must focus on the underlying problem and involve participation of the patient in order to be truly effective and long lasting. Treatments which solely focus on pain and other “symptoms” only, are far less effective, and are often dangerous since the conditions causing the symptoms remain untreated and uncorrected.
What Benefits Does Chiropractic Care Provide For The Maturing Adult?
Routine chiropractic care has a number of benefits which are especially important for maturing adults:
Routine chiropractic care has a number of benefits which are especially important for maturing adults:
*spinal and extremity pain relief
*decreased stiffness and muscular spasms
*increased mobility and range of motion
*increased balance and coordination
*increased sense of well being
*increased energy
*enhanced tissue healing
*decreased tissue inflammation
*increased joint health
*decreased arthritis and arthritic joint pain
*minimized spinal stress and subsequent degeneration
*minimized risk of fall injuries
*decreased stiffness and muscular spasms
*increased mobility and range of motion
*increased balance and coordination
*increased sense of well being
*increased energy
*enhanced tissue healing
*decreased tissue inflammation
*increased joint health
*decreased arthritis and arthritic joint pain
*minimized spinal stress and subsequent degeneration
*minimized risk of fall injuries
Are There Any Studies Showing The Benefits of Chiropractic Care In The Aging?
A study in Clinical Chiropractic evaluated the health status of 414 elderly individuals (average age of 80 years) and compared those individuals under chiropractic care with those not under chiropractic care. The researchers found a number of significant findings which included:
87% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as good or excellent compared with only 68% in the nonchiropractic group 13% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as fair or poor compared with 32% in the nonchiropractic group 44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the nonchiropractic care group
those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise at 3 years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care used a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did use a nursing home at 3 years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized.
87% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as good or excellent compared with only 68% in the nonchiropractic group 13% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as fair or poor compared with 32% in the nonchiropractic group 44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the nonchiropractic care group
those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise at 3 years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care used a nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic care did use a nursing home at 3 years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were hospitalized.
What Can Chiropractic Care Do For Me?
Chiropractic Increases Spinal Range of Motion Increasing spinal range of motion can positively influence lives in many ways. For some, an increased range of motion means being able to bend down to pickup the grandchildren. For others, it translates into an extra 30 yards of distance out of their driver on the golf course.
Chiropractic Increases Spinal Range of Motion Increasing spinal range of motion can positively influence lives in many ways. For some, an increased range of motion means being able to bend down to pickup the grandchildren. For others, it translates into an extra 30 yards of distance out of their driver on the golf course.
Chiropractic care has a long history of helping individuals like yourself reach these and other goals through increases in spinal range of motion. Best of all, increases in spinal range of motion can occur immediately following chiropractic treatments. This is one of the reasons why many top professional sporting teams have team chiropractors treat the athletes prior to and during sporting events.
Chiropractic Decreases the Frequency and Severity of Back, Neck and Head Pain
The treatments utilized by chiropractors have been consistently shown to be one of the most effective and safest forms of care to treat the majority of back, neck and head pain complaints. This is because most causes of back, neck and head disorders are related to abnormalities of the soft tissue components within the spine – something doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat.
The treatments utilized by chiropractors have been consistently shown to be one of the most effective and safest forms of care to treat the majority of back, neck and head pain complaints. This is because most causes of back, neck and head disorders are related to abnormalities of the soft tissue components within the spine – something doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat.
Chiropractic Increases Balance and Coordination
As we age, balance and coordination become increasingly impaired. Studies have shown that the receptors located in the joints of the upper cervical spine are largely responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. Research has also shown that injury to these “neck” receptors is a significant cause of balance and coordination problems in humans.