Feldman Chiropractic

“You’ll just have to learn to live with it, you’re getting older.” These are words that many older people have heard in response to their complaints. Aches, pains and a lack of mobility are so common that some of us even think that it is normal to ache as we age. Sometimes we see an article in the news treating an older person who is doing something active like a marathon or a long bike ride as a quaint oddity.

The truth is that pain doesn’t have to be part of your life as you age. You don’t have to stop being active. There is almost always a solution to the pain and lack of mobility that so often accompanies old age. In other words - you don’t have to live with it. Chiropractors see patients in all seasons of their life, and we all notice that the patients most grateful for chiropractic care are the older generation. Patients who often have come to accept that they will live a life of pain and stiffness are overwhelmed with relief to find that a simple and effective treatment can so often give them relief.

Chiropractic spinal adjustments benefit seniors by improving mobility and restoring function in stiff and worn joints. Osteoarthritis (also called degenerative arthritis) is the most common form of arthritis and is a result of joint “wear and tear.” It tends to affect
people as they get older, particularly in joints that have to take a lot of stress and strain, such as the weight bearing joints of the hips, knees and lower back, as well as the neck and hands.

Osteoarthritis often results from a previous injury to a joint, thus it is important for treatment to begin with restoring proper joint alignment. This ensures joint stresses are evenly distributed instead of there being undue stress on one particular portion of the joint,
predisposing it to increased degeneration. This is similar to the increased wear on a
car tyre when the wheels are out of alignment. Often one hip will wear out and need replacing, even though both hips are the same age and there has been no previous history of injury.

Chiropractic adjustments and corrective muscle balancing procedures can help
control pain, increase joint motion and improve muscle and tendon flexibility. Chiropractic spinal adjustments can also improve nerve function and overall health of seniors. Poor body mechanics, particularly where nerves exit the spine can potentially disrupt nerve pathways, upsetting vital connections between the brain and the body, affecting overall
body function.

Exercise is also essential. It increases lubrication of the joints and strengthens the surrounding muscles, putting less strain on the joint. Mobility is critical
for osteoarthritic joints. A good form of exercise is hydrotherapy in a heated swimming pool. This can bring enormous relief from pain and stiffness. Obviously, overweight people should endeavour to lose weight to reduce the stress on the joint, so a well balanced
diet is important to help manage body weight and stay healthy.

Recent research has shown nutritional supplements containing glucosamine with chondroitin can be of great benefit
to arthritic joints.

Chiropractic is an extremely safe and gentle therapy, so age is seldom a reason why people are declined chiropractic care. Instead of grumbling about the
aging process, do something positive and see your chiropractor to find out if he or
she can improve the quality of your life.