Chiropractic Care for the Elderly: How Safe Is It?

Approaching old age comes with significant changes for each of us. Our hairs turn grey. Our energy levels are reduced. We start discovering unpleasant jolts of pain here and there. But there is an alternative to this prospect: staying active and enjoying your hobbies, living to the full, free of pain. It is not just a dream; it is a possibility if you choose chiropractic care for the elderly.

Can Older People Go to the Chiropractor?

Many of our senior patients start their initial appointment with this question: is this safe for me at my age? And our doctors do their best to reassure them – and they succeed. Thanks to chiropractic care for the elderly, many people are now walking in the park with the love of their lives, playing with their grandchildren, or even doing serious gardening in their backyard.



Chiropractic is an approach to healthcare that treats the whole person. The effects of aging may have symptoms here and there, but their main reason is the less effective functioning of the nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments and manipulations improve the way the brain communicates with the body, resulting in:

•    Effective solutions for chronic pain

•    Reducing inflammation and tension in muscles and tendons

•    Improving the blood flow in the entire body

•    Solving various apparently unrelated health problems, from tingling in hands and feet to digestive problems.

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How Do Chiropractors Decide the Type of Therapy for Elderly Patients?

Our chiropractors start with the patient’s medical history and a detailed physical examination. Our aim is to determine:

•    The preexisting conditions of the patient

•    Their level of fitness

•    Any complications requiring a special approach

•    Their pain tolerance.



We always rely on the best practices recommended by other medical specialties – because we do not reject Western medicine, but wish to improve the way people are cared for and helped to heal and feel better.



Here are a few of the best practices we use in our clinic in order to keep our patients safe and make sure that they get the full benefit of chiropractic care for the elderly:

1. Chiropractors Adapt the Force Used in Manipulations

We understand that an aging body is frailer and has a higher risk of injury. This is why chiropractors receive specific training to adapt the force of their adjustments and manipulations when they are treating a senior person.



The adjustments are just as effective and, when we cannot rely on the manual force at all, we use specific chiropractic equipment and devices. They are designed to be finely tuned to the type of patient, including the elderly and people with very low tolerance to pain.

2. We Counsel Patients Who Take Anticoagulants on the Risks of Chiropractic

Patients who take anticoagulants may develop bruising during chiropractic adjustments. We always use our best judgment and advise patients whose specific health conditions make chiropractic care for the elderly unsuitable for them.



At the same time, we refer them to other types of alternative therapies that they may safely try, such as acupuncture. Our aim is to provide the best care when we cannot direct the person to the right type of treatment for them.

Each type of therapy is chosen dependent on the patient’s medical history, preexisting conditions, and medication they take.



In our clinic, we believe that everyone should enjoy their life to the full at any age. We encourage you to book an appointment with us and find out more about chiropractic care for the elderly!