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Baby Boomers & Beyond
Welcome to "Baby Boomers and Beyond", the section of our site dealing with health issues of the maturing individual.
Included in this section is information on:
The aging spine
How chiropractic can eliminate years of pain and discomfort while
simultaneously enhancing health and wellness,
Many prevalent health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and
Alzheimer's Disease,
Exercise and fitness programs for the maturing individual,
Dietary and nutritional concerns for the maturing individual,
And much more.
The Aging Spine
A normal part of aging process involves the deterioration of tissues, especially those of the spine. This deterioration occurs with all individuals over time. The degree of the deterioration varies from individual to individual. The reasons for this are not fully clear, however, it seems that a history of spinal stress and abuse (such as years of hard labor or years of prolonged sitting) as well as inadequate spinal hygiene (lack of periodic spinal checkups) accelerates this deterioration process.
The Intervertebral Disc
The intervertebral disc (the cartilaginous pad situated between the spinal vertebrae) is one of the spinal structures most affected by the deterioration process. Normally, movements of the torso draw water into the disc which results in the influx of nutrients essential to maintaining a healthy disc. Similarly, torsal movements assist in flushing out waste products from the disc. This constant movement of water into and out of the disc is what keeps the disc strong and healthy.
As we age, the tissues of the disc fibrose and become stiff. This fibrosis and stiffening reduces the ability of the disc to accept and eliminate water, and thus, obtain vital nutrients and eliminate noxious wastes. Individuals who subject their spines to prolonged stress, have had at least one back/neck/spinal injury, and who do not practice proper spinal hygiene significantly accelerate this process. This "dehydration" of the disc is often visible on x-ray as a loss of disc height, which is identified by a reduction in the distance between adjacent vertebrae. As the disc becomes dehydrated it also tends to bulge outwards, like a tire without adequate air. If severe enough, the bulging disc can compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots.
As the discs of the spine undergo these arthritic changes, the biomechanics of the spine are also changed. If the failing spinal biomechanics are left untreated, further degenerative changes occur. Other structures affected by the degenerative processes as well as the alteration in spinal biomechanics include the body of the vertebrae as well as the facet joints.
Facet Joint and Vertebral Body Arthritis
Both in the margins of the vertebral bodies and in the facet joints calcium becomes deposited. Over time the calcium ossifies which causes stiffness and loss of function in the tissue. This is seen on x-ray as "lipping" and "spurring" and enlargement on the edges of the vertebral bodies as well as facet joints. Frequently, these arthritic spinal changes lead to back and neck pain and stiffness, and are also responsible for extremity pain such as that shooting down the back of the leg. This commonly results from the bony compression or irritation of spinal nerve roots. In essence, relatively small spinal problems can snowball into serious spinal problems later in life.
Chiropractic Treatments Can Help
Chiropractic treatments maintain motion in the spine which is vital to the health of the discs, joints and other tissues. Our treatments also optimize spinal biomechanics to minimize the stresses associated with the degenerative changes that occur with age. Your spine can be viewed much like any other moving structure in that the better you treat and maintain it, the longer it will freely operate problem free; if you abuse it or don't properly maintain it, it will wear out and break down.
Chiropractors help millions of maturing individuals regain control of their lives every year. Our treatments are designed to eliminate acute and chronic pain, increase flexibility, improve mobility and function, increase strength, enhance balance, and increase the overall quality of one's life.
Chiropractic care involves spinal and extremity adjustment techniques, physical therapies, soft tissue therapies, dietary and nutritional counseling, exercise and fitness counseling and many other safe and natural methods to improve health and prolong a vibrant and productive life. We can show you how to get the most out of your body so that you can get the most out of life!
What Benefits Can Chiropractic Care Provide For The Maturing Adult?
Routine chiropractic care has a number of benefits which are especially important for maturing adults:
Spinal and extremity pain relief
Decreased stiffness and muscular spasms
Increased mobility and range of motion
Increased balance and coordination
Increased sense of well being
Increased energy
Enhanced tissue healing
Decreased tissue inflammation
Increased joint health
Decreased arthritis and arthritic joint pain
Minimized spinal stress and subsequent degeneration
Minimized risk of fall injuries
Are There Any Studies Showing The Benefits of Chiropractic Care In The Aging?
A recent study evaluated the health status of 414 elderly individuals (average age of 80 years) and compared those individuals under chiropractic care with those not under chiropractic care. The researchers found a number of significant findings which included:
87% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as good or excellent
compared with only 68% in the nonchiropractic group
13% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as fair or poor
compared with 32% in the nonchiropractic group
44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with
66% in the nonchiropractic care group
Those who used chiropractic care were more likely to do strenuous levels of exercise
At 3 years follow-up, less than 5% of those who used chiropractic care used a
nursing home while a staggering 48% of those who did not use chiropractic
care did use a nursing home
At 3 years follow-up, only 26% of those who used chiropractic care were
hospitalized compared with 48% of those in the nonchiropractic group
Coulter, PhD et al. Chiropractic and Care for the Elderly. Top Clin Chiro 1996;3(2):46-55.
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