Many older people are not aware of the outstanding benefits that are possible through regular care for chiropractors. I have compiled a list of the seven most frequent benefits that care for chiropractic provides for older people.
Pain relief
Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safe forms of health care for treating pain due to spinal conditions. Chiropractic is so effective that most of the causes of diseases of the spine are associated with anomalies of the spinal and surrounding structures of soft tissues. Chiropractic doctors are specially trained to identify and treat subluxations (misalignment of the vertebrae) and their subsequent effects on the central nervous system. Anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers simply mask the symptoms and have many undesirable side effects.
2. Increased range of movement of the spine and limbs
Repeated chiropractic treatment increased not only the range of movement of the spine, but also in the limbs. Increasing the range of movement of a person can positively and drastically affect life in many ways. For some, an increased range of movement means the ability to stoop to pick up their grandchildren. For others, this means they can sit without pain or get an extra 40 yards from their driver on the golf course. In many cases, increasing the range of motion immediately follows chiropractic adjustments. This is one of the reasons why many professional sports teams have team chiropractors.
3. Increase balance and coordination
It has been shown that many problems of balance and coordination in an aging population stem from injuries or degenerative changes in the cervical spine (cervical spine). The structures, known as mechanoreceptors, are located in the posterior (posterior) joints of the cervical spine and are responsible for providing the brain with important information important for balance and coordination. Mechanoreceptors in the cervical hind joints provide the main contribution to the position of the head relative to the body. With aging, soft defects disrupt the work of mechanoreceptors and lead to loss of proprioception (a sense of body awareness). When proprioception decreases, the body position in space deteriorates and the patient becomes dependent on vision in order to know the location of the limb. To compensate for the loss of proprioception (sense of body awareness) in the legs, the legs are held wider than usual. The steps become irregular and uneven in length. As the exacerbation increases, the patient becomes unable to compensate. In the event of a serious loss of proprioception, the patient cannot get up from the chair or stand up after falling without assistance.
Studies have shown that chiropractic care can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating joint receptors (mechanoreceptors) in the cervical spine. It is believed that this stimulation restores or normalizes the functioning of joint receptors, which leads to improved balance and coordination. (Caranasos, MD, Isreal, MD. Side effects in the elderly. Hospital 1991, June 15: 67-94. Guyton, MD. Medical Physiology Tutorial, 9th edition WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1996; 714.)
4. Reduced joint degeneration
The convex (displaced) spine is very similar to a mismatched wheel on a car. This misalignment will lead to premature wear of the spine (and the wheel). Since all moving parts will wear out over time, it is very important to periodically align the spine. Chiropractic care reduces spinal degeneration and other arthritis changes, normalizing the alignment of the spine and reducing spinal cord tension.
5. Increased health and well-being.
We usually ask our patients what changes they notice when they get sick. Here are some regular answers that we hear every day:
I feel great!
I can sleep all night!
Now I can play in the garden!
I have so much energy!
Life is worth living now!
Yes, chiropractic is much more than just pain relief.
Feeling good, staying healthy and doing what makes us happy makes us look forward to every new day. Regular chiropractic care improves the quality of life and improves health and well-being.
6. Reducing the frequency of falls
Fall injuries are extremely common in the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the decline is responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures that occur annually among Americans over the age of 65. Chiropractors reduce the risk of falls by normalizing the mechanoreceptors of the cervical spine by administering chiropractic adjustments. They also prescribe stretching and exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination.
7. Keeps the elderly from nursing homes
While studying at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, I had the opportunity to meet with President Dr. Ian Coulter. Dr. Coulter has participated in many research projects that explore the benefits of chiropractic and exercise.
In 1996, he published an interesting study in the journal “Themes of Clinical Chiropractic” entitled “Chiropractic for the Elderly”.
The key points that he noted in this study were:
o 44% of those who used chiropractic services reported arthritis compared with 66% in the non-chiropractic group
o those who used chiropractic services were more likely to perform heavy exercises.
o Within three years of observation, less than 5% of those who used chiropractors lived in a nursing home, while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractors lived in a nursing home
o within three years of observation, only 26% of those who used chiropractic services were hospitalized compared to 48% of those who did not take chiropractic
There is no need for elderly people to suffer uselessly. Chiropractic provides amazing benefits and has an outstanding indicator of safety and effectiveness. Ask your family and friends about a manual doctor that they recommend. Take action now and make an appointment to see if chiropractic helps!
