Chiropractic care isn’t only for pain management or lack of mobility due to an illness or injury, it can also be an important tool for preventative care.
This is particularly true for seniors. At a time when body parts begin to show signs of wear such as degeneration of disks in the spine, spinal adjustments can help keep seniors moving which is so important to their overall health.
Chiropractic manipulations help seniors improve their balance. Falling becomes a bigger problem as we age and not only are older people more likely to fall but they’re at risk for more serious injuries. According to the National Council on Aging, every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall and every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Disks in the spine degenerate with age and can affect your balance and coordination. Chiropractic care can stimulate mechanoreceptors in the cervical posterior joints that can become impaired with age. These receptors send messages to the brain that help with balance and coordination.
Arthritis can occur at any age but it affects older people more than any age group. It can be a painful and debilitating disease that keeps seniors from doing the activities that they love. With gentle spinal adjustments, pain can be decreased while mobility is increased.
Overall mobility can be a problem for seniors. If walking is painful, for example, they may avoid it as much as possible which will cause muscles to atrophy. Pain medications have a host of side effects, not the least of which is their addictiveness so relying on them to do simple, everyday activities is not always the best solution. Chiropractic manipulations are a non-invasive, drug-free way to relieve pain. They target the area where the pain is instead of treating the entire body with pain medications.
Another health problem that seniors may experience is a weakening immune system. Believe it or not, chiropractic adjustments can help. An aligned spine boosts your immune system by allowing the central nervous system to send messages properly. Misalignments in the spine can cause deterioration in the spine prematurely. Also, the disks that provide a cushion between our vertebrae can become worn and lose their elasticity as we age and can cause misalignment or may even rupture. By keeping the spine in proper alignment, the nervous system can work the way it should.
Seniors may believe their bodies are too delicate for spinal manipulations and shy away from chiropractic care because they may fear that it’s too dangerous for their aging bodies. As with any course of treatment, there are risks involved. However, trained and experienced chiropractors know how to carefully perform adjustments on most bodies to achieve pain relief without a lot of discomfort. If you have osteoporosis or osteoarthritis, you should consult with your primary care provider before seeking chiropractic care.
Chiropractic treatment can be used in conjunction with other treatments to aid in the relief of symptoms.
With chiropractic care, seniors can improve their quality of life. If they can maintain good health and mobility, they can stay in their homes and out of assisted living facilities longer. By improving their health, seniors will be able to continue doing the things they enjoy like keeping up with the grandkids for many more years.
North County Pain Relief is a full-service chiropractic care facility located in St. Louis that treats patients young and old. Our caring staff will guide you through the process as we determine the best treatment for you. Call to schedule a free consultation today at (314) 731-4201 and we’ll help you get moving!
