What happens when someone gets older and their bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, and spine begin to constrict and become more brittle? Osteoarthritis (a degenerative joint disease that causes the breakdown of cartilage, the cushioning tissue between bones) is a common health condition that affects some 32.5 million Americans, particularly the elderly.[1]
How can these individuals find relief from the pain associated with aging, while at the same time keeping their increasingly brittle bodies safe from injury? Chiropractic care is a powerful treatment for this exact purpose.
How Important is Chiropractic Care for Older Patients?
As mentioned above, some 32.5 million Americans struggle with osteoarthritis, the vast majority of whom are elderly. And that’s just one orthopedic condition that can greatly affect quality of life, pain levels, physical ability, mobility, and flexibility. Many other musculoskeletal conditions can impinge on an individual’s day-to-day life, affecting millions of Americans throughout the year.
Chiropractic care is important for elderly patients because:
1) Older patients are more likely to experience musculoskeletal issues.
2) Older patients can benefit from noninvasive and outpatient medical interventions like chiropractic adjustments.
Chiropractic Care is Different for Older Patients
The typical image one has of a chiropractic adjustment is the chiropractor delivering a somewhat intense manipulation of the patient’s body to effect the adjustment. One imagines such a procedure would be too much for an older body to handle, and that producing a similar intensity-level adjustment on an older body may result in injury.
Thankfully, there is a unique approach to treating older patients with chiropractic care.
Five Best Practices for Elderly Chiropractic Patients
Older patients have more brittle bodies that are less bendy and supple, yet they are often the demographic that needs chiropractic care the most. How can chiropractors help them?
In older patients, chiropractic care must emphasize gentle, low-force techniques and a highly personalized approach that takes into account the individual patient’s physical health and any musculoskeletal injuries or conditions. A few ways chiropractic care may look different for older patients include the following:
• Older patients may receive a more involved diagnosis before treatment. While it is commonplace for chiropractors to take X-rays of patients before arranging a treatment plan, chiropractors may go a step further with an older patient. For example, they may request that an older patient see an orthopedic specialist first (a medical doctor who specializes in the branch of medicine dealing with conditions affecting bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments). The osteopathic specialist can provide a thorough analysis of the patient’s body and green-light them for chiropractic care.
• Preliminary care may also be utilized. For older patients, a chiropractor may arrange preliminary care in their office right before the adjustment to “prepare” the body for the adjustment. Such care could include massage or myofascial release.
• Gentler adjustment techniques may be utilized. Chiropractors have a wide array of treatment options for their patients. More gentle techniques are reserved for patients with bone or joint conditions and for older patients. Examples include the Activator Technique and the Macro Occipital Technique.
• Exercise and physical therapy will likely be incorporated. Much of helping an older patient with chiropractic care revolves around addressing the underlying health conditions that are causing them trouble. Older patients should focus on building strength, mobility, flexibility, and overall physical capacity. With that in mind, a chiropractor for older patients will likely prescribe therapeutic exercises and mobility training to be done alongside chiropractic adjustments.
• Better sleeping arrangements may also be suggested. An older body requires more attention when it comes to mattresses, pillows, and the temperature of a bedroom at night. It’s likely a chiropractor will work with their patient to determine the best sleeping arrangements so that the patient’s rest hours are beneficial for their spine and body.
Chiropractic care for older patients can be immensely helpful in providing pain relief and increased ability without requiring invasive operations or expensive medications. Older patients report enhanced daily living, a holistic alternative to medication, better balance and posture, improved flexibility and mobility, and an ability to enjoy activities and hobbies they thought they were too old to engage in. Older patients should consider chiropractic care if they are beginning to experience recurring aches and pains associated with aging.
Chiropractic Services for All Ages in Middle Tennessee
Just like with other medical practices, there is no “one size fits all” (or, given the field, perhaps it would be more accurate to say there is no “one adjustment that fits all”) approach to chiropractic care. Every patient has unique chiropractic needs based on their physiology, and their age will be a factor in determining the type of adjustments and services they receive.
The best chiropractors in Franklin, Tennessee, and the best chiropractic care in Nashville are delivered by trained professionals who know how to diagnose patients while accounting for factors such as age. At Cool Springs Chiropractic, our team is more than ready and available to provide chiropractic care for elderly patients.
Dr. Peter Hinz and the rest of the team of Nashville chiropractors at our office consistently deliver exemplary service and are recognized for their expertise, including in treating elderly patients who need gentle chiropractic adjustments.
Quoting Tennessee’s award-winning chiropractor, Dr. Hinz:
• “At Cool Springs Chiropractic, our expert team provides tailored chiropractic care to address our patients’ unique health needs in collaboration with their primary care provider and other specialists. No matter what the severity of the condition is, we’re here to effectively diagnose the problem and do everything we can to help patients experience relief without invasive surgeries or costly medication. Even for elderly patients who are experiencing musculoskeletal issues that are significantly hampering their day-to-day quality of life, we can help them find relief now. The result? Our patients leave our office feeling pain-free, healthier, happier, more mobile, and ready to experience a better life.”
Schedule an appointment by calling (615) 503-9900 or using our online system to take advantage of our limited-time $49 New Patient Special.
Our office is located at 3252 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 13, in Franklin, Tennessee. For information or to ask a question, email us at info@coolspringschiropractic.com.
Sources:
[1] CDC. “Osteoarthritis.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023. cdc.gov
