Chiropractic for Older Adults
By Paul Rothbart
It's not easy getting old. Energy levels tend to lower, the body slows down and all those aches and pains. Aging beats the alternate, but doing it gracefully while living a fulfilling life can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many things that can benefit the ability of senior citizens to maintain an active and enjoyable lifestyle. Diet and exercise are as important for older adults as they are for any age group. But something you may not realize is that chiropractic may have a number of benefits for the older folks.
Relieving Pain
Remember those aches and pains in the last paragraph? Some of them may be caused by misalignments of the vertebrae. This is what chiropractors do. By adjusting the spine and other joints, many of these pain may be relieved, not just temporarily, but long term. Medication merely masks the pain for a short time and can have unpleasant side effects including addiction. Chiropractic is holistic and works on the cause of the problem. Regular adjustments may help control the amount of pain experienced.
Increased Range of Motion
Aging tends to stiffen up joints and limit their mobility. I can attest to this as my knees make going up and down stairs more challenging than it used to be. The care of a good chiropractic may increase the range of motion in the spine and other joints. This could allow for the enjoyment of physical activities such as hiking, golf, or gardening. Even something as simple yet helpful as taking a daily walk may become easier with regular chiropractic adjustments. This is an especially nice benefit when it enables you to pick up your grandchildren.
Better Coordination and Balance
For senior citizens, being injured in a fall is a very real threat. The cervical spine has structures called mechanoreceptors that send information on balance and coordination to the brain. Getting older can impair the mechanoreceptors just enough to lessen awareness of where the limbs are in relation to the body during physical activity. This makes balance more difficult to maintain and the effort to compensate can further throw the spine out of alignment. Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments may stimulate the mechanoreceptors and improve balance and coordination. This can reduce the risk of falls.
The changes in the body experienced by senior citizens can sometimes be painful and limiting. But that doesn't mean there's nothing that can be done. Regular visits to a chiropractor may just be able to keep you feeling spry and young. Drop in to your local The Joint Chiropractic.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Madison, Ala.