It is quite natural that with age the body starts becoming weaker, and it becomes necessary to focus on staying healthy and active. While bones and muscles may weaken, it is still possible to be out and about and doing the things we love.
Normally senior citizens face chronic pain or other issues due to the deteriorating condition of the body. Luckily, chiropractic care has multiple benefits for the elderly, from increased mobility to a decreased risk of falls and other injuries. Many seniors are unaware of the outstanding benefits that are possible through regular chiropractic care. Here you can see the compiled list of the most frequent benefits that chiropractic care provides for seniors…
Senior Citizens Get Relief From Pain
Chiropractic care is considered to be one of the most effective and safest forms of health care to treat pain due to spinal related conditions. It is beneficial for senior citizens as it does not involve any sort of surgery or medication. Chiropractic treatments are so effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Chiropractors are qualified professionals who have received specialized training to identify and treat subluxations (misalignments of the vertebrae) and their subsequent effect on the central nervous system. Chiropractic care treats elders with a wide range of chiro therapies and prevents the use of anti-inflammatory medication that merely masks the symptoms and has many undesirable side effects.
Seniors Can Experience Increased Range of Motion of the Spine
Chiropractic care has helped senior citizens increase the range of motion of the spine and its surrounding muscles. Increasing a person’s range of motion can positively affect lives in many ways. For some, an increased range of motion means being able to bend down to pick up their grandchildren. For others, it means they can garden without pain or get an extra 40 yards of distance out of their driver on the golf course. Chiropractors use chiropractic adjustments to treat senior citizens and increase flexibility in their bodies. A chiropractor has a variety of treatment methods to heal existing injuries while also improving a person’s range of motion. It may take several treatments to achieve the results you want, but a few visits to the chiropractor are well worth the increased range of motion you will enjoy!
Chiropractic Care Helps In Increasing Balance and Coordination
With aging, many people face problems with maintaining proper balance and coordination. The cause behind this problem can be some injuries or degenerative changes to the cervical spine (neck region). Structures known as mechanoreceptors are located in the posterior (back) joints of the cervical spine and are responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. These receptors in cervical posterior joints provide major input regarding the position of the head in relation to the body. After crossing a certain age, mild defects impair mechanoreceptors’ functioning and result in a loss of a sense of body awareness. Experienced chiropractors can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating joint receptors in the cervical spine.
Decreased Incidence of Falling
Injuries due to falling are extremely common in the elderly population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures which occur annually among Americans past 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.
Chiropractic Care Improves Overall Health
Chiropractors are known for adjusting spines. An aligned spine helps the body function at its peak. But chiropractors do more than adjustments. They focus on improving your overall health. Once the chiropractor understands your situation, he or she will design an overall treatment plan designed to help you be as healthy as possible. Seniors that get regular chiropractic care often say they feel much better than they did before—which allows them to do more of the things they love to do.
Summary
Chiropractic care is beneficial for seniors who are struggling with decreased mobility. Results will vary due to the nature of the patient’s individual needs. Some seniors may find themselves able to bend over again and play with grandkids or in the garden. Others who enjoy golf may find an increase in their drive distance. These small improvements can lead to a large increase in overall quality of life for all patients. People with more severe mobility issues may be able to regain strength through a mix of chiropractic and physical therapy.
