An Increased Life Expectancy and Its Implications
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the average life expectancy for women was 50.7 Years in 1900, 74 in the year 2000, and is projected to be 85.6 in the year 2050. As we have increased our life expediencies, it is to be expected that a whole host of health issues arise with advanced age. There are always new pills and devices that crop up to entice the aging population with a solution to their age-related symptoms.
With the latest study demonstrating how chiropractic can counteract the health problems that arise with age, it is even more pertinent that chiropractic be seen and utilized as more than just a “back pain” solution. With the rise in disability among the geriatric population, the integration of chiropractic care can not only make a tremendous difference in a patient’s mobility, but in the rising costs of healthcare as well.
A Study on Medicare Recipients: Analyzing on Patient Mobility
A study from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics analyzed data from a US national survey conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called the survey on Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD).
Within the AHEAD survey, 1,057 Medicare recipients with back pain were identified for inclusion in the study. The study included a statistical analysis of patient surveys conducted in 1995 and 2006. Patients were asked about their overall health, ability to complete activities of daily living (ADL), and lower body function (LBF). ADLs included things like walking up the stairs or going grocery shopping. Researchers then analyzed medical records to see who had received either medical care or chiropractic care for episodes of back pain during the 11-year period that was reported.
The Results of the Study: Chiropractic’s Impact on Aging
After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the researchers were able to find that chiropractic patients were significantly less likely to have declines in ADLs and LBF than medical-care only patients. What does this mean? The chiropractic patients were also less likely to have significant declines in their self-reported health. It appears that chiropractic care has a protective effect against increased disability with age. Here is what the researchers have to say with regards to the study:
These results suggest that when chiropractic care is delivered in practice at care levels comparable to those used in clinical trials and relative to the types of services delivered within an episode of medical care only, chiropractic confers significant and substantial benefits to older adult functional ability and self-rated health
The study adds to earlier research showing that chiropractic is safe for geriatric patients with back pain and neck pain, as well as provide substantial relief for various spinal conditions, disc herniation, and arthritis.
Aging causes the spinal discs to collapse and dehydrate, making you more prone to back injuries like bulging discs or pinched nerves. Think of it like this: It’s like seeing a dentist twice a year to help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Just the same way, seeing a chiropractor for regular checkups can ensure that your spine is in good shape to prevent these kind of injuries and strains in the first place.
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If you would like to meet with a chiropractor in Augusta GA that specializes in customized treatments, you can schedule a complimentary consultation at Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic. Our complimentary consultations are very much an integral part of our patient experience, and our ultimate goal is to make sure that you,as the patient, are the one in control of your health.
The Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic Blog is written by Dr. Mark Huntsman.
Augusta GA Chiropractor Georgia Clinic of Chiropractic provides patients with personalized chiropractic care to Augusta GA, Martinez GA, and Evans GA. You can visit our main website at www.georgia-clinic.com for chiropractors in Augusta GA specializing in personalized care.
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