Chiropractic for the elderly

iCCARE

21 November,2023

In old age, we often have to endure pain caused by bones and joints. If using the Chiropractic method, older people will have many advantages and outstanding benefits that care brings. Here are the 7 most frequent benefits:

Instantly reduces pain

Chiropractic is one of the most effective and safe methods of treating pain caused by diseases related to the spine. Chiropractic is especially effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and surrounding soft tissue structures. Chiropractic doctors are specially trained to identify and treat spinal misalignments that have the potential to directly impact the central nervous system. Pain medications simply treat symptoms and have many side effects. Unwanted side effects, sometime later, the pain returns after the drug is finished, and the process of taking the drugs is repeated until the patient has to increase the dose of drugs because they are no longer effective. Especially for the elderly, when their physical condition is no longer healthy and their internal organs are also old and weak, they need to be careful when using drugs to treat symptoms of muscle, bone, joint pain…

Increase range of motion of the spine and limbs

Severe pain in the neck, shoulders, nape, and waist
Pain increases when sitting, lying on your side, coughing, sneezing or defecating
Numbness, tingling or loss of feeling in the arms and legs
Weakness in arms and legs, difficulty in bending the neck
Reduced mobility

Increases balance and coordination

Many problems in balance and coordination in elderly subjects have been shown to come from trauma or degeneration that alters the cervical spine (neck area). Structures called mechanoreceptors are located at the back of the cervical spine and are responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. Mechanoreceptors in the posterior neck joints provide input primarily related to the position of the head within the body. With age, mild disability reduces the function of mechanoreceptors and results in a loss of body awareness. With reduced cognition, the body is weakened by the patient’s “vision” depending on the limbs.

To compensate for the loss of sensation (perceived body sensation) in the legs, the feet are opened wider than normal. The steps become uneven and uneven in length. As the decline increases, the patient will not be able to adjust. With severe cognitive loss, the patient may not be able to get up from a chair or increase the risk of falling without the body being able to react in time.

Studies have shown that Chiropractic can help restore balance and coordination by stimulating receptors in the cervical spine. This stimulation is thought to restore or normalize general receptor function leading to improved balance and coordination.

Reduce joint degeneration

A misaligned spine is like an off-center wheel on a car. This misalignment will cause the spine (and wheels) to misalign and develop. Since all moving parts will eventually wear out over time, it is important that your spine is checked periodically. Chiropractic care reduces spinal degeneration and positively affects arthritis by normalizing spinal alignment and reducing spinal pressure without medication.

Reduce accident rate

Injuries from falls are very common in the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls account for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures, especially femoral neck fractures, that occur each year among Americans over the age of 65. Chiropractic doctors help Reduces the risk of falls by normalizing the proprioceptors of the cervical spine. They also prescribe stretching exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination.

Increase general health

We often ask older patients what changes they notice when they receive Chiropractic care and treatment. Here are some frequent responses we hear everyday:

I feel very good! I can sleep all night!
Now I can play badminton well.
I have so much energy!
Life is worth living!

Elderly people requiring special treatment and care (incapacitated or very weak in mobility)

Dr. Coulter from the Canadian Chiropractic College has participated in many studies on the benefits of chiropractic care and practice. In 1996, he published an interesting study in the Journal “Topics in Clinical Neurotherapy” called “Chiropractic Care for the Elderly.” Key points that the Doctor noted in the study:

The rate of patients with arthritis was 44% for those using Chiropractic care while the rate of arthritis was 66% in the group not using Chiropractic care.
People who use Chiropractic are more likely to exercise better.
During three years of follow-up, less than 5% of chiropractic users needed specialized treatment and care while 48% of non-chiropractic people needed supportive care services.
Chiropractic is more than just pain relief. Feeling good, having a healthy body that can do the things that make us happy is something we look forward to every new day. Care by chiropractic method increases quality of life and increases health.

No elderly person should suffer needlessly. Chiropractic offers great benefits and has research on safety and effectiveness.

If you have any questions about bone and joint diseases and services of iCCARE CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC, please contact hotline 096 393 1999 for specific advice.