How can Chiropractic Care help Seniors?

​Getting older can bring some challenges including stiffness, slower movements and greater risks of falling. For many older adults, maintaining mobility and balance isn’t just a comfort factor but assists in staying independent, strong and safe.
As we age, several physiological changes can affect our movements, including:

• Joint degeneration and arthritis
• Muscle weakening or atrophy
• Postural changes
• Impaired proprioception (body’s sense of position)
• Slow reaction times and vestibular dysfunction.

Chiropractic care isn’t just for pain relief, but also supports the bodies neuromuscular system, improves joint function and enhances coordination.
Gentle spinal and joint adjustments can help restore range of motion in stiff or arthritic areas. Improved joint mechanics support more efficient, pain-free movement. A randomized clinical trial published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies (2019) found that spinal manipulative therapy combined with exercise significantly improved mobility and decreased pain in older adults with chronic low back pain [1].
Manual therapy can also stimulate sensory receptors in the joints and spine, improving how the brain perceives body position—crucial for balance and coordination. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic adjustments improved sensorimotor function and joint position sense in older adults, potentially reducing fall risk [2]. Another study by Holt et al. (2016) found that chiropractic adjustments positively influenced reaction time and muscle control, both essential for balance [3].
Fear of falling can limit physical activity, which accelerates loss of strength and stability. Chiropractic care supports safer movement patterns and empowers seniors to stay active. A 2018 cohort study in Pain Medicine found that older adults who visited a chiropractor were 49% less likely to fill an opioid prescription, suggesting that chiropractic may help reduce reliance on risky medications often used for pain [4].
Additionally, improved spinal alignment and proprioception contribute to better gait and posture, which are strongly associated with fall prevention.
If you know an older person struggling with some of these issues, why not send them in to see if we can help them reach their optimal health.
References

1. Ferreira GE, et al. (2019). Effectiveness of spinal manipulative therapy for older adults with chronic low back pain. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 27(1):4.
2. Haavik H, Murphy B. (2016). Impact of spinal manipulation on sensorimotor function in the elderly. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 39(3):172–179.
3. Holt K, Russell D, et al. (2016). Improvements in reaction time and movement time after chiropractic care. Chiropractic Journal of Australia, 44(4):252–266.
4. Whedon JM, et al. (2018). Association between use of chiropractic care and opioid prescription in older adults. Pain Medicine, 19(2):271–279.