As people age, there are unique health challenges that they may face. This may include arthritis, brittle bones, reduced flexibility and balance, and joint degeneration. Chiropractic care offers a drug-free and non-invasive solution to help seniors achieve the best quality of life possible. With better health and well-being, it will be easier for seniors to keep doing what they love most. Let’s take a look at 5 benefits of chiropractic care for seniors.
1. Less Pain
Whether it’s due to an injury, illness, or recent surgery, many seniors experience pain on a frequent basis. This pain can interfere with their ability to enjoy life and spend it with their loved ones. Chiropractic care provides natural, long-term pain relief without any drugs or invasive surgeries that are expensive and have unpleasant side effects. Indeed, chiropractors will focus on identifying and treating the source of the patient’s pain. This is often a spine misalignment, which can lead to pain, discomfort, and even illness. After the spine is properly aligned, the chiropractor will focus on reducing any pain and discomfort, such as muscle tightness or joint stiffness. When a patient is not in pain, they will find it easier to build up their strength and take on life with renewed energy.
2. Better Balance and Coordination
As people age, their balance and coordination may worsen due to an injury or degenerative changes in the cervical spine (neck region). Small receptors at the base of the neck are responsible for helping the brain know where the limbs are functioning. For seniors, these receptors do not function as well as they used to, which makes it challenging to understand how the body is moving. This may lead to falls, as well as reduced balance and mobility. Chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment to improve the communication in the spine and help encourage the receptors to work properly. When these receptors are working well, seniors will experience better balance and coordination.
3. Improved Range of Motion
A common concern for seniors is reduced range of motion. This can limit their ability to do what they love, such as gardening, traveling, playing with grandchildren, or golfing. Chiropractic can help increase a patient’s range of motion and reduce the risk of experiencing pain while on the go. Indeed, this will have a positive impact on their daily life. Chiropractors will restore the spine and joints into proper alignment, as well as reduce any muscle tightness and improve their flexibility. The chiropractor may also suggest specific exercises to strengthen a patient’s muscles, which helps boost their mobility.
4. Better Overall Health
When seniors receive regular chiropractic treatment, this has a positive ripple effect on their health. Aside from the benefits above, seniors may also notice improvements to their sleep, mood, and energy. By feeling more rested and having more energy, patients will find it easier to achieve long-term health and well-being. Indeed, this can be accomplished without any harsh drugs and their known side effects, such as blurry vision, confusion, dizziness, and stomach issues. These side effects are the last thing anyone needs, particularly the elderly that face new health challenges.
5. Maintain Independence
When seniors take control of their health and well-being, they are more likely to be able to live at home. Since maintaining one’s independence is a top priority for seniors, this is a major benefit to chiropractic care. Indeed, patients that receive regular chiropractic adjustments will be less likely to become injured or fall. These injuries can lead to expensive hospital or ER visits and potentially moving into a nursing or assisted living home. In a 1996 study, Dr. Ian Coulter studied the benefits of chiropractic care and exercise among a group of elderly people in Canada. Dr. Coulter found that after three years of receiving chiropractic care, only 5 of the seniors in the study were living in nursing homes, while 48 percent of those that did not receive chiropractic lived in a nursing home.
As you can see, there are several health benefits of chiropractic care for seniors. If you or a loved one are considering chiropractic, we encourage you to check out Keystone Chiropractic. We would love to become your new chiropractors in Plano, TX and help you gain victory over your health!
