Benefits of Chiropractic Care For The Elderly

Chiropractic care is safe and effective for everyone at every stage in their lives. Today, we will be discussing chiropractic care for the elderly; benefits, safety, and common myths! 

Hello everyone, it's Dr. Bob Salamon here with Lowcountry Chiropractic! Welcome back to the blog. I hope you are continuing to stay healthy and well out there, and I hope you've started to take the advice I discussed in my last blog to heart. Making those healthy additions in your life can make all the difference, keep you healthy, make you feel good, and so much more! Always know that I'm here to answer your questions or to schedule you for a consultation;  just give us a call or shoot us an email!
 
Today, I wanted to turn the tables and talk about chiropractic care for a certain age group. I've mentioned before that the myths and misinformation about chiropractic care can get in the way of individuals receiving life-changing treatment that can improve their overall quality of life. I hear these excuses and reasonings why individuals shouldn't get care all the time; I'm too young it's not safe, I'm too old it's not safe, I'm pregnant so it's not safe, I'm not in pain so I don't need chiropractic care. All of these reasons are incorrect. Today, I want to discuss and talk about chiropractic care for the elderly.
 

• Is Chiropractic Care Safe For The Elderly?

First and foremost, absolutely! According to the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, chiropractic care for the elderly is a safe and effective alternative. It is one of the least invasive options for multiple different types of pain and can help avoid serious surgeries that could come with a very difficult healing period. According to Dr. Cheryl Hawk, a professor at the Texas Chiropractic College in Pasadena, TX says that chiropractic care is one of the safest interventions for the care of back pain in the elderly. The risk of any problems or harm from chiropractic care is similar to having a very serious problem after receiving a shot, which is very little. The most common side effects can be muscle soreness and stiffness, which can be addressed with drinking plenty of water, a well-balanced diet, and rest. These side effects are very similar to how you'd feel after starting a new workout plan. There is no age limit for chiropractic care. To guarantee this safety, the chiropractic treatments are modified to fit the age of the patient to best suit their issues and body. Modifications are made to the changes to the neurological and musculoskeletal systems that come with aging naturally. A 30-year-old will receive different treatments than an 80-year-old!
 

• What Are The Benefits of Chiropractic Care For The Elderly?

Chiropractic care offers so many benefits to anyone that seeks out and receives care, it's one of the many reasons why I love what I do! You might be surprised at the number of benefits chiropractic care can give the elderly.

• As I mentioned in my previous blog, chiropractic care can help strengthen and maintain your immune system. The elderly are one of the most affected groups when it comes to poor immune systems, especially during this pandemic. Getting consistent chiropractic care can help build up and maintain a senior's immune system.
• One of the most common reasons we see patients is to help them deal with pain. As you age, your body could be experiencing more pain due to arthritis, bad knees, a bad back, and many other reasons. Chiropractic care is a natural pain management system; it can help these issues from getting worse and can potentially get rid of the pain you're experiencing altogether.
• Chiropractic care can help increase mobility in seniors, allowing them to get around without the need of a nurse or family member, a cane, or a walker. Chiropractic care can help improve flexibility, align your joints, and help with tightness in the muscles, allowing seniors to move as they please and be able to conduct activities of daily living.
• Balance can be improved and restored with chiropractic care. Elderly individuals who are prone to or at risk of falls truly benefit from chiropractic care, as treatments have been known to stimulate spinal receptors to improve coordination and balance.
• Chiropractic care can help manage, stop, and decrease the degeneration of the spine. 
• Seniors can see a decrease in joint degeneration across the board if they receive consistent chiropractic care. Subluxations can cause the spine and other joints to wear out and break down much easier than they are meant to. This can cause serious pain, loss of mobility, inflammation, and many other painful issues. Chiropractic care decreases spinal degeneration and other arthritic changes by properly aligning the spine.
• Chiropractic care can help prevent seniors from using over the counter pain medications.
• It can help seniors avoid going under the knife for what can be very invasive procedures like hip, knee, and back surgery.
• Chiropractic care can lead to an overall better quality of life, health, and wellness. It can allow seniors to move and get around to enjoy their favorite activities, allow them to spend time with their families, help them stay healthier, sleep better, digest better, concentrate better, have improved memory, and my other wonderful attributes.
• Improving one's health, range of motion, balance, and stability not only improves one's quality of life, but it can also help seniors live at home longer on their own without a family member or a nurse having to move in, or having to move into a nursing home. It can also provide a senior's family peace of mind, knowing how much happier they are living at home, and knowing they are much safer from falling or slipping thanks to a stronger and healthier back.
• Due to the fact that chiropractic care has a connection to the brain and its health, Medicare has accepted chiropractic care as an approved healthcare cost they will cover in the treatment of Alzheimer's and Dementia. Research is still happening on this topic, but many believe chiropractic care could help in the prevention or even prolong the years before either of these diseases appear.

 

• Myths To Ignore When Seeking Chiropractic Care For The Elderly

I hear these myths and tall tales all the time in my office, and I know there are even more out there that I haven't heard yet. I wanted to share a few myths and false facts to throw out when considering treatment. Each of these statements is false;  don't let them get in the way of receiving the treatment you need!

• Chiropractic care is dangerous!
• I'm too old for chiropractic treatments.
• Chiropractic care is expensive, and I can't afford it on my pension or retirement funds.
• Chiropractic care only treats back pain.
• Chiropractic care isn't covered by insurance.
• Chiropractic treatments rarely work.
• Your bones will grind against one another when you get treated, and it'll hurt!
• There is no scientific proof that chiropractic care works.
• Chiropractors are not real doctors.
• It's just a fad!

Remember, each of these items is false! If these are the reasons why you have been staying away from treatment, let us remedy that now! Give us a call or schedule an appointment with us right away!
 

• Preparing For Your First Adjustment

Going to your first chiropractic appointment at any age can be overwhelming and make you a little nervous. Sometimes the worry and fear of not knowing can be what causes a person to not get the treatment they need. With that in mind, I wanted to provide a list of how to prepare for your first chiropractic appointment.

• Make sure to show up a little early for any last-minute paperwork.
• Dress comfortably and in clothes that don't restrict movement.
• Be honest with your chiropractor about your medical history, what medical issues you have, what pain you're experiencing, and so on. While I'll be able to tell a lot about you from your exam, I won't be able to read your mind.
• You might be asked to also get an x-ray or other tests so your chiropractor can understand more about your body and what troubles you might be experiencing.
• Prepare for an adjustment on your first visit!
• Remember, this won't hurt. Your chiropractor will go at a speed that is comfortable for you and will answer any questions you might have during your visit.
• Be prepared to leave with some homework! Your chiropractor might ask you to do some stretches, buy a new pillow or a new office chair, or recommend some light exercises to help your alignment and overall health improve. These adjustments will also make your quality of life in between appointments more manageable and comfortable.
• Please drink plenty of water and rest after your adjustment!

 
I hope all of this helps! Please know we are here for you at any stage of your life and can help you at any stage of your life. If you have any questions or concerns or would like to come in for a consultation give us a call! Stay healthy and safe, readers! Until next time, I'm Dr. Bob and I've got your back covered!

---