THE BABY BOOMER’S GOLDEN YEARS

Chiropractic has helped millions of maturing individuals to help regain control of their lives and health. Chiropractic adjustments are specifically designed to reduce pain, increase range of motion and general mobility of joints, improve strength and balance and overall quality of life. As we are living longer lives, the majority have a reduced quality of life and less ability to experience general daily and recreational activities due to debilitating pain and dysfunction. Medline reported that 50% of the elderly and 75-85% of the senior citizens in care facilities suffer from chronic pain. According to the National Institute on Aging, it is estimated that 335 of individuals over the age of 65 years are afflicted with osteoarthritis. IMS Institute for Healthcare information found people aged 65-79 years old receive more than 27 prescriptions for new drugs per year. Pain relieving narcotics prescriptions for seniors rose more than 20% over a 5 years period. According to CDC.gov, millions of older people fall, and 1 out of every 4 older adults fall each year. The American Journal of Epidemiology stated that one fall doubles your chance of falling again, with 1 out of 5 leading to serious injury (Journal of Trauma & Injury). 

WHY IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE IMPORTANT FOR THE AGING AND MATURING INDIVIDUAL?

As we age, stress, wear and tear and joint dysfunction occur. This results in decreased range of motion from arthritic conditions of the joints reducing function and causing weakness. Joint dysfunction and “stoved” or “locked up” arthritic changes occur in the joints, along with decreased mobility and inability to engage in general activities and exercise. Chiropractic adjustments are safe and effective methods to help restore motion, decrease pain and return to general activity and exercise. In 1997, Americans made an estimated 629 million visits to practioners of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as compared with just 388 million visits to primary care physicians that same year. Chiropractic focuses on the underlying problem of the joint and spinal nerve dysfunction, allowing you to experience increased quality of life, participation in daily activity and exercise along with reduced pain and increased function with chiropractic adjustments. 

Before we understand the connection between arthritis, aging and chiropractic care, we must first understand what coordinates every function within the body. The spine is composed of 24 moveable vertebra that protect the nervous system. The nervous system is the master controller of the body, controlling all glands, organs and functions. When a spine is out of alignment this is called a subluxation. This misalignment decreases the function of the nervous system, causing pain and reducing movement of the joints, muscle stiffness and decreasing health. Research has shown that it only takes the pressure of a dime to decrease the nerve function by over 60%. When the spine is out of alignment this dysfunction reduces motion, irritates nerves and decreases optimal function of the nervous system. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR MATURING ADULTS, PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS?

Regular chiropractic care has several benefits for these maturing adults which include pain relief, decreased stiffness, increased range of motion, higher energy level and participation in daily activities. In Top Clinical Chiropractic 1996, Dr. Coulter, PhD compared the status of over 414 elderly individuals and those not under chiropractic care, Research showed that 87% of those who use chiropractic care rated their health as excellent or good compared to only 68% of the non- chiropractic group. Those undergoing chiropractic care were also more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise. In the study of gait disorders, chiropractic increases balance and coordination thru essential information in the nervous system. Injury to the neck receptors cause balance and coordination problems in adults. Results of a three-year follow-up of patients using chiropractic care show that only 26% of those were hospitalized as compared to 48% in the non-chiropractic group. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, patients are much more satisfied with the care given by chiropractors than medical doctors. Chiropractic reduces the stress on the joints by increasing joint nutrition, mobility and decreasing tissue degeneration through optimized mechanical movement of the spine.  The most dramatic improvements were associated with pain reduction, but many of the factors that contribute to the quality of life were affected by Chiropractic care. 

So, if you want to improve your ability to enjoy life and reduce pain please call our office to schedule an appointment. See how chiropractic care can help you, your parents and grandparents.