Chiropractic Care and the Aging Population

Chiropractors provide assistance to a great many aging people on a yearly basis, aiding them in regaining power over their lives. Our treatments are tailored to reduce both ongoing and acute pain, increase suppleness, improve movement and capability, boost strength, stabilize balance and bolster the overall quality of life.
Chiropractic care encompasses spinal and extremity manipulations, physical therapies, soft tissue treatments, nutritional advice and guidance on exercise routines as well as other natural approaches to preserve healthiness and foster an energetic lifestyle. We can demonstrate how you can maximize the potential of your body so that you can make the most out of life!

The Importance of Chiropractic Care to the Aging Adult

Chiropractic treatment is vital for senior citizens and those aging due to the significant modifications in the spine as one gets older. With age, spinal discs, joints, ligaments, muscles and other components of the spine become weaker, drier, more rigid and less able to deal with ordinary pressures. Thus, aches from spinal degeneration (arthritis) grow more noticeable; even minor occurrences can lead to tissue damage and healing time increases.
 
Chiropractic care uses a tailored and non-invasive approach to address the changes that come with aging, including any spinal irregularities. Through soft manipulations, physical therapies, stretches and exercises, pain can be relieved, tension in the spine relieved, mobility increased and further damage prevented.
 
For treatments to be truly effective and have lasting results, they must tackle the root cause of the issue and involve the patient in the process. Treatments that simply address pain or other symptoms without addressing the source are less successful and can even be hazardous as they leave any contributing conditions untreated.

The Benefits Chiropractic Care Provides For The Aging Adult

Chiropractic care on a regular basis has many advantages, particularly for people who are getting older.  Here are just a few:
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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

Studies Show The Benefits of Chiropractic Care In The Aging.

A recent study investigated the wellbeing of 414 elderly individuals (with an average age of 80 years) and compared those under chiropractic care with those not under chiropractic care. The findings were noteworthy:
87% of those receiving chiropractic care rated their health as good or excellent, while only 68% in the non-chiropractic group did so;

13% of those who used chiropractic care perceived their health as fair or poor, as opposed to 32% in the non-chiropractic group;

 44% of those utilizing chiropractic care had arthritis, compared to 66% in the nonchiropractic group;

people who engaged in chiropractic treatment were more likely to do vigorous exercise.
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At 3 years follow-up, less than 5% of those receiving chiropractic services utilized a nursing home, while 48% from the non-chiropractor cohort did so;

at 3 years follow-up, 26%, from the individuals using chiropractor’s services were hospitalized whereas 48%, from the ones not using them experienced hospitalization.

Chiropractic care has a long track record of helping people achieve their objectives, such as being able to pick up their grandchildren or gaining more distance on the golf course, through augmenting spinal range of motion. What's more, these improvements can be noticed right after chiropractic treatment. That is why many professional sports teams have chiropractors who provide care before and throughout games.

Chiropractic Care Reduces the Frequency and Severity of Back, Neck and Head Pain.

​Chiropractic treatments have been demonstrated to be one of the most effective and safest ways to manage most issues with back, neck and head pain. This is because the majority of problems with these areas are related to abnormalities in the soft tissue components within the spine, which chiropractors have been educated to recognize and treat.
 

Chiropractic Care can Increases Balance and Coordination

As we grow older, our balance and coordination become less reliable. Studies have revealed that the receptors located in the joints of the upper neck are fundamental for supplying the brain with essential data necessary for maintaining balance and coordination. Additionally, research has demonstrated that damage to these neck receptors is a major source of difficulty with balance and coordination in human beings.
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Mechanoreceptors in the cervical facet joints are essential for providing input on the posture of the head relative to the body. With age, minor impairments can impede their functioning. This can also affect proprioception in the legs, particularly among those with diabetes. Because of a diminished sense of proprioception, people struggle to gauge their body's position in space and thus must rely more heavily on vision to understand where their limbs are located. To try and counter this lack of proprioception in the legs, people tend to keep their feet further apart than usual when walking; as a result, steps become uneven and irregular in length. When impairment worsens, individuals may not be able to compensate anymore and will need help getting up from a chair or standing after falling down.  Joint receptors located in the neck provide the most essential information required to keep balance.

Research has revealed that chiropractic treatment can help reinstate equilibrium and coordination by activating the joint receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the neck. This activation is assumed to bring back or even out joint receptor operation which leads to betterments in balance and coordination.
 

Chiropractic Care Can Reduce Fall Injuries, as well as Other Injuries.

​Falls among the elderly are a common and potentially devastating occurrence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for around 90% of the 850,000 fractures experienced by seniors in the U.S. each year. Chiropractors may help reduce this risk by using special spinal adjustment techniques to normalize cervical joint receptors which provide balance and coordination information to the brain, through stretching and exercise programs that strengthen muscles, increase flexibility, improve mobility, balance, and coordination; as well as providing diet and nutrition advice to enhance general health status, boost energy levels, and promote a sense of wellbeing. These benefits not only lower fall risks but also aid recovery from existing injuries.

Chiropractic Care can Improve Joint Nutrition and Decreases Spinal Joint Arthritis

Chiropractic treatment works to restore and maximize the range of motion of spinal and extra-spinal joints, allowing vital nutrients to enter these areas and toxic waste products to be removed. This process helps maintain joint health and can reduce the deterioration that leads to arthritis.

Chiropractic Care Decreases Joint and Tissue Degeneration through Optimizing Biomechanics

Similar to an automobile wheel that is not properly aligned, a spine with improper biomechanics will deteriorate more quickly. As moving components will eventually wear out, it is critical to get the most use out of your spine since it's the only one you'll ever have. Chiropractic treatment centers on optimizing spinal biomechanics which lessens pressure on the spine and therefore decreases spinal deterioration and other joint problems.

Chiropractic Care Improves Health and Well-Being

​When you don't have to suffer from aches and soreness, and can partake in activities that bring you joy (like golf, gardening, or spending time with the grandkids), life is much better. Feeling well and doing the things that make us content are what give us something to look forward to every day. Going to a chiropractor in Edmonton frequently after the age of 40 is not just meant for relieving pain or fixing soft tissue problems, but also for improving your quality of life. Don't let yourself miss out on living life fully - call now so we can get started on a personalized health program tailored just for you.

Strive Spine & Sport, located in Edmonton, Alberta, have a dedicated team of chiropractors who will provide you a detailed treatment plan to get you back to normal quickly.  They are committed to working with you to help you maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

We have more interesting articles on caring for your spine and maintaining your health.  Read on with this interesting article.