The Importance of Chiropractic Care for the Elderly
Studies show that by the year 2030, people above the age of 65 will account for 20 percent of the total population in the United States. Although advancements in healthcare have played their part in an increase of the average lifespan, drugs come with harmful side-effects. This is one of the reasons why chiropractic care is witnessing a rise among the elderly.
There is still a considerable number of senior citizens who are not aware of the pros of chiropractic care.
Relief from Pain
Chiropractic care proves to be one of the safest and most effective forms of treatment due to the absence of surgery or side-effects. Since most chiropractors focus on the spine, any pain resulting from spinal disorders or abnormalities in the soft tissue structure is addressed.
Correction of subluxations, (misalignment of the vertebrae) as well as its effects on the nervous system helps relieve pain. This acts as a great alternative to anti-inflammatory drugs which only help in temporarily masking the symptoms and come with unwanted side effects.
A Decrease in Joint-Degeneration
Misalignments in the spine can appear during old age and put excess stress on the spinal cord which causes it to wear out faster. You can slow down the joint-degeneration with chiropractic care which also aids in decreasing the rate of arthritic change.
Improve Balance and Coordination
Most problems related to coordination and balance in the elderly stem from degeneration or injury to the neck region (cervical spine). Mechanoreceptors (a type of support structures) are positioned in the posterior joints of the spine and provide the brain with vital information necessary in maintaining the body’s coordination and balance. With time, these receptors are prone to defects which result in a decreased sense of body awareness.
This loss of proprioception (bodily awareness) makes the body compensate by keeping the feet wide apart and the person to take irregular and uneven steps. A severe degeneration of proprioception limits a person’s ability to even get up from a chair or stand up after falling over.
Chiropractic care helps stimulate these receptors which aid in normalizing their function and restoring a sense of balance.
Decreased rate of Falling
According to one research, 3 million elderly people each year are treated for serious fall injuries. Chiropractic treatments help in treating the cervical spine which deals with movement. Chiropractors also prescribe a number of stretching exercises to increase flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, and mobility.
Chiropractic care provides benefits for people of all ages. It also helps the elderly retain their independence which is important especially for those living alone. Shelby County Chiropractic headed by Dr. James Stapleton D.C and Dr. Willian Yadon D.C in Shelbyville—Louisville, KY offer chiropractic treatment Louisville, Shelbyville for senior citizens helping them to stay healthy and fit during their golden years!
