Aging Well with Chiropractic Care
By Donna Kostiew
It seems as the years pass, one after the next, that the same birthday sentiment is sent over and over again to pretty much everyone I know who has passed the 35-year mark.
Happy 29th Birthday (again)!
Why is this? I remember as a child I would always try to appear older, I would “age up.” I wasn’t 12, I was “almost 13" or "12-and-a-half." But now, most people are attempting to do the opposite, to “age-down,” even though they are clearly not fooling anyone. The point of living, after all, is to live. To keep those years passing by. And with more people living to an older age nowadays, I say we should embrace those birthdays. But let’s do it with optimal health.
Aging Well with Chiropractic Care
Getting older can have its ups and downs. Our bodies are changing and things are starting to hurt more. While there is nothing we can do to avoid the aging process (we can’t stay 29 forever), being proactive with chiropractic care and healthy lifestyle choices will help us to enjoy the many years ahead of us. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways that a chiropractor can help with aging.
- Pain relief – Lower back and joint pain are the most common causes of pain and disability as we age and chiropractic care can help to provide relief for many of these issues. Chiropractic adjustments restore balance and remove stress to the spine and joints of the body while also improving function for many of the body’s systems. For many, this can bring significant improvement to their pain and discomfort.
- Range of motion and flexibility - Many elderly people find that they struggle day-to-day just to perform the simplest of tasks. With an improved range of motion and increased flexibility, they are able to take care of their basic needs, can enjoy their hobbies and family more, and can live with less pain.
- Balance and Coordination - An all too common issue related to the aging process is an increase of falls and injuries that are often caused by degenerative changes in the cervical spine. This is often a major contributor to all of the bone fractures and breaks that we see in the elderly. Regular chiropractic adjustments will help to restore the patient’s balance and coordination and can slow down the process of joint degeneration, thereby reducing the risk of falls, potential injuries, and medical costs.
It’s a Lifestyle Choice
In addition to a healthy diet and adequate exercise, chiropractic adjustments support and maintain the health of the immune, digestive, and nervous system, all which will help to improve the overall health of an older adult.
Birthdays are inevitable, but we don’t have to pretend to be younger than we are. With the proper care from a chiropractor and a commitment to good health, we can continue to live young at heart. And that’s more important than the number of candles on any birthday cake in front of us.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Franklin, Tenn.