Geriatrics and Chiropractic

This article discusses the very real need for chiropractic care for the rising number of older adults. With about one in five adults in the United States alone turning 65 years of age or older, this need cannot be ignored.

This study focused on five of the most common methods employed by chiropractors: spinal manipulative therapy, acupuncture, physical activity, nutritional counseling and fall prevention.

Since many older people seek out chiropractic care for such issues as low back pain and muscle aches, headaches and such it is really important that we be ready to render the specialized services geriatric patients need.

The SMT used by different chiropractors incorporate multiple and differing techniques should be carefully tailored to the specific needs of the older patient. SMT alone was evaluated using patients with lower back pain and neck pain with or without stenosis, dizziness, knee pain and thoracic function. Other techniques included padded wedges, instrument assisted manipulation and other low force techniques such as the BioEnergetic Synchronization Technique and Cox Flexion-Distraction technique.

There is evidence saying using SMT so helped with COPD, depression, constipation, Parkinson's disease, pneumonia, multiple sclerosis, knee pain, urinary incontinence and more. There is need for further investigation into these claims of success with non spinal related conditions but it is encouraging.

There isn't a lot of data on the safety of SMT in older people.There have been few reports of adverse events following SMT in older patients, but the evidence so far looks promising. Employing lower velocity techniques on the elderly and non manipulative therapy will surely cause fewer risks to the patient.

The role of acupuncture is being studied on older adults with chronic low back pain and musculoskeletal pain and some improvement was noted in those receiving contemporary acupuncture and lumbar PENS showing 3 months worth of relief...