Though chiropractic care has been around for hundreds of years, only recently has it become recognized as essential healthcare and accepted by insurance companies. This means that the older generation is not as familiar with chiropractic care and may be less likely to seek out a Billings chiropractor. However, chiropractic care has a huge number of benefits, including treating many ailments and health issues commonly found in this population. In fact, many senior citizens are practice members at Bare Chiropractic and have seen firsthand how our care can help.
Common Health Concerns in Elder Adults
No matter how healthy a person is, aging changes their body, and most people will have at least some concerns once they are older. Some of the most common and most frustrating issues often have to do with mobility. Aging causes joint pain like arthritis, hip and knee pain from overuse, or the wearing down of certain tissues that make movement difficult. In addition, as we age, we become more susceptible to a range of health conditions that can affect overall wellness.
As older people use their bodies less, there is also often stiffness or a loss in range of motion, which makes balance difficult. In fact, falling is one of the biggest risks to the elderly. In general, older adults feel less healthy and hope to find a way to preserve their quality of life. Often, they are given medications and other ways to mask symptoms, but chiropractic care may offer a more effective alternative to these treatments.
How Chiropractic Improves Quality of Life
People of any age can suffer from a spinal misalignment that impacts nerve function and can cause a myriad of issues in the body. For the elderly, they most commonly show up as poor balance and poor posture, general aches and pains, muscle tightness, weakened immune systems, and digestive problems. These misalignments can be the root of having trouble sleeping, walking, and maintaining energy that many elderly people exhibit.
There may also be more serious issues that can be caused by subluxations and other spinal conditions. For example, it is common for the discs that sit between our vertebrae to degenerate over time, which can cause painful rupturing or herniations and further back problems.
Gentle adjustments from Dr. Thomas Keogh are a safe and effective way to manage these problems and even prevent many of them from happening. All chiropractic adjustments are created with your needs in mind, so elderly practice members are always treated with specific care and attention to any other concerns they may have.
Older adults who utilize chiropractic care can experience not just a relief from pain, but more energy, better sleep, and an overall better quality of life. Aging doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you love, especially with the right team on your side. Book an appointment with the team at Bare Chiropractic today to begin working with Dr. Thomas Keogh and see how you can benefit!
Sources
Dougherty, P.E., Hawk, C., Weiner, D.K., Gleberzon, B., Andrew, K., Killinger, L. “The role of chiropractic care in older adults.” Chiropractic and Manual Therapies. 2012; 20: 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3306193/.
Hawk, C., Schneider, M.J., Haas, M., Katz, P., Dougherty, P., Gleberzon, B., Killinger, L.Z., Weeks, J. “Best Practices for Chiropractic Care for Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Consensus Update.” J Manipulative Physiological Therapies, 2017 May; 40(4): 217-229. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28302309.
