Chiropractic treatment is available for senior citizens and offers a variety of different health care strategies, depending on the severity of the condition, as well as the general health of the patient. For those seniors who are in good physical health and lead an active physical lifestyle, chiropractic can offer significant help in many cases. These patients are treated with pain relief and stabilization in mind so that they can return to the active lifestyle that they enjoy.


Occasionally, some seniors enter our office with significant additional health problems. Sometimes these additional health problems can slow down the progress that may be expected under chiropractic care. While there can still be wonderful benefits for these types of cases, the ultimate goals must be tempered so as to be realistic for the particular patient.




Goals that can be expected



1. Complete pain relief with return to active lifestyle. 


2. Partial pain relief with return to most activities. 


3. Partial pain relief with return to only specific activities.


4. Slowing down the progression of the condition in advanced degenerative situations.


If you notice in the goals listed above, there is quite a difference between goal 1 and goal 4. This is usually due to the health history of the patient, with goal 4 patients having significant degeneration already present, inactive lifestyle, or perhaps significant other health issues already in place. Even in goal 4 patients there can significant help attained because these patients typically appreciate the opportunity to slow down the rate at which their conditions become worse.


Upon examination and consultation, the goals that can be expected will be explained to you. Please remember that those patients in this category need to be more patient with treatment as they typically respond slower to care than patients who are younger. While this fact may seem obvious, it needs to be stated so that patients can have proper expectations.



A recent study published in Topics in Clinical Chiropractic found chiropractic geriatric patients "less likely to have been hospitalized, 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

."

What was the "magic" that made the Chiropractic patients healthier over all?


The study discovered that chiropractic geriatric patients get more exercise and do more strenuous exercise, tend to be more mobile, and use more community services. Geriatric patients under chiropractic care were more likely to report their own health as being good to excellent, reported less arthritis, depression, and hospitalization, as well as fewer chronic conditions.



Call our office now to make sure that you live your “Golden Years” with great health and vitality.