One of the most common health issues that many senior citizens have to deal with is aching joints and muscles. And such pain can significantly affect their daily lives. Here, chiropractic care is one of the solutions that they turn to. But how does it work exactly and how should you do it to get more? Home Health Care Provider Amavi guides you on this matter.
What Is Chiropractic Care, Anyway?
Chiropractic care is a system of medical care that aims to deal with various conditions by stimulating the body’s ability to self-heal. The technique most notably focuses on a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system. This category comprises the bones, spine, muscles, nerves, tendons, and ligaments. The idea here is by maintaining the normal alignment of these various parts, you can better promote good health.
The origins of chiropractic care can be traced back to 1895 when its founder Daniel David Palmer demonstrated his techniques. He applied the method to a deaf janitor and claimed that it restored their hearing. It is worth noting that methods similar to Palmer’s already existed before. But he was the first one to claim there are specific contact points in the body that help treat various conditions.
After that initial demonstration, Palmer established his school for the practice. However, there was initial friction between practitioners of the method and those of conventional medicine. Chiropractors also had to defend their rights to practice the new method.
In the later years of the 20th century, the situation has improved, with chiropractic care getting more recognition. There has also been greater cooperation between it and other branches of medical care. This has allowed for the development of more holistic care methods that involve it.
But, Does Chiropractic Care Work?
Because of the initial circumstances leading to its introduction, some people wonder whether the practice works. Recent studies have shown significant evidence that it does. However, these results highlight a different picture of how it works compared to its original conception.
In particular, several notable studies reveal that chiropractic adjustments work well for dealing with back pains. According to statistics, 6% of older adults have some disabling back pain. Note that the effectiveness of chiropractic care for reducing back pain is only slightly higher than traditional medication. However, this still makes it a good option for people who don’t want to be too dependent on meds.
Other Benefits
As more studies have been done about the mechanics of chiropractic care, researchers have also discovered several other benefits of the method. Many of these benefits are something that seniors would welcome.
Improving Balance And Mobility
Balance issues can significantly affect the ability of older people to move around. Chiropractic care can help solve the illness through spinal alignment correction. The practice can also induce the release of spinal receptors that improves coordination.
That greater balance control also contributes to improved mobility. In line with this, chiropractic care can also solve the issue of limited joint motion, another contributor to poor mobility. The method helps remove the tightness of muscles, allowing seniors to move as they please.
Improving Overall Well-Being
Ultimately, chiropractic treatment can help boost overall well-being. With less pain and discomfort, seniors can be in a better mood. Regular treatment can also improve your sleep patterns, ensuring you get enough rest. With that, you can be more energized to face the daily grind.
Some Things To Consider
However, being a form of alternative medicine, you need to consider certain things before undergoing a chiropractic procedure. The following are some of the risks that you have to address before signing up.
The Risk Of Bone Damage
Since chiropractic care involves bone and joint adjustments, there is a significant risk of bone damage. That can be due to the chiropractor using hard pressure to move the bones. If the patient has some pre-existing bone condition, such as osteoarthritis, it can worsen the situation.
Hence, it is imperative to get your doctor’s opinions first to determine whether you can get a chiropractic procedure. They can tell you which types of treatments would best suit your condition.
Risk Of Other Injuries
Related to the above, there is also a slight risk of injury during chiropractic treatment. According to studies, around 30-60% of patients can experience a mild adverse effect after chiropractic treatment. You can readily remedy these minor injuries after the treatment, but you should still pay attention.
Soreness
This one isn’t much of a risk but more of an inconvenience. However, the soreness can be debilitating for those with a low tolerance to pain. Hence, you must rest a full day before fully resuming your activities. You can also take pain medication as recommended by doctors.
Stroke
While the actual occurrence of this is low, there are still some concerns about chiropractic treatments leading to strokes. The issue is connected with neck manipulations. As such, seniors should avoid these processes unless permitted by their doctors.
CARING FOR RECOVERING STROKE PATIENTS
The Chiropractic Procedures For Seniors
Given their specific conditions, senior patients should be careful in choosing the chiropractic procedures to get. The following are the most common ones that you can consider.
Manipulative Techniques
These techniques involve a direct movement and alignment of the bones and joints involved. Several procedures fall under these, including the following.
- Diversified manipulative technique: The method has the chiropractor applying pressure to the affected vertebral segment to correct its alignment.
- Atlas orthogonal: This technique involves realigning the top cervical bone of the neck to correct posture.
These are the methods that you would commonly resort to remedy neuromusculoskeletal issues. They can also deal with other health issues but their effectiveness is still subject to analysis.
Non-Manipulative Techniques
As the name implies, these techniques do not require pressure to the affected area. Instead, these use non-invasive means to stimulate these areas. Some common forms include electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and massage. Under the massage umbrella, seniors can choose the likes of myofascial release, deep tissue massage, and acupressure.
The main advantage of this type is that it is gentler on the body. As such, there is a lower risk of soreness or injury. This makes them well-suited for older people still getting used to the method. Note that you can use this method alongside manipulative ones to get more benefits from both.
Get The Best Chiropractic Treatment Through Our Home Health Care Service
As we have emphasized several times, undergoing chiropractic care should be done under the guidance of an expert. Amavi can help you here, as we can use our network to connect you with the best chiropractors around. And after your treatment, we are ready to provide top-notch home health care for your quick recovery. Contact us today to learn more.