More and more seniors are experiencing remarkable changes in their health by incorporating chiropractic as part of their wellness strategy. 

Facts

•  A study published in 2003 concluded that, "Chiropractors may administer more prevention and health-promotion services than any other health profession." It further concluded, chiropractic seniors saw their medical doctor only half as often and they took nearly 70% less drugs. 96% of the chiropractic patients believed their care to be either ‘considerably' or ‘extremely' valuable.

•  Another study published in 1996 stated, "It was found that chiropractic users were less likely to have used a nursing home, more likely to report a better health status, more likely to exercise vigorously, and more likely to be mobile in the community. In addition, they were less likely to use prescription drugs."

•  In addition, 87% of chiropractic patients described their health as excellent compared to just 67.8% of non-chiropractic patients.

Conditions facing seniors are:

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain. Joint pain is referred to as arthralgia.

Carpal Tunnel - Carpus is a word derived from the Greek word "karpos" which means "wrist." The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue which normally functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers, a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome."

Degenerative Disc Disease As we age, the water and protein content of the body's cartilage changes. This change results in weaker, more fragile and thin cartilage. Because both the discs and the joints that stack the vertebrae (facet joints) are partly composed of cartilage, these areas are subject to wear and tear over time (degenerative changes). The gradual deterioration of the disc between the vertebrae is referred to as degenerative disc disease.

Degeneration of the disc tissue makes the disc more susceptible to herniation. Degeneration of the disc can cause local pain in the affected area. Any level of the spine can be affected by disc degeneration. When disc degeneration affects the spine of the neck, it is referred to as cervical disc disease. When the mid-back is affected, the condition is referred to as thoracic disc disease. Disc degeneration that affects the lumbar spine is referred to as lumbago. Lumbago causes pain localized to the low back and is common in older persons. Degenerative arthritis (osteoarthritis) of the facet joints is also a cause of localized lumbar pain that can be detected with plain x-ray testing. The pain from degenerative disc or joint disease of the spine is usually treated conservatively with intermittent heat, rest and rehabilitative exercises to relieve pain, muscle spasm, and inflammation.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition causing pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and disturbances in bowel function. Fibromyalgia was formerly known as fibrositis. While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles, its cause is currently unknown.

Low Back Pain has several causes. Common causes of low back pain include lumbar strain, nerve irritation, lumbar radiculopathy, bony encroachment, and conditions of the bone and joints. Kidney problems, tumors, pregnancy and ovary problems are also cause of discomfort.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is condition that features loss of the normal density of bone and fragile bone. Osteoporosis leads to literally abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone leading to an increase in the risk of breaking bones (bone fracture). The fracture can be either in the form of cracking (asin a hip fracture), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertabrea of the spine). The spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of osteoporosis-related bone fractures, although osteoporosis-related fractures can also occur in almost any skeletal bone area.

What can chiropractic do to help seniors?

Chiropractic philosophy and practice are ideally suited to helping older people live longer and healthier lives. Because chiropractors are committed to health maintenance, preventing disease, and promoting lifelong wellness, they can give members of the aging population the health care they need for continued longevity and an enhanced quality of life.

You probably know of men and women in their seventies or older who look, feel and act years, even decades, younger than they are. That's how we all want to be: as active and vital as we've been in our thirties and forties. Research has shown that chiropractic treatment and guidance in nutrition and lifestyles helps reduce your vulnerability to the damaging and debilitating aspects of growing older.

Chiropractic enables you to remain active, permits your joints, muscles, and nerves to function appropriately, free of pain that could prevent you from remaining active, feeling fully alive and more youthful, even as your age increases.