9am - 12:30pm &

3pm - 7pm

M/W/Th:

3pm - 6pm

9am - 1pm

8am - 11am

1st & 3rd Saturdays only

Tues:

Fri:

Sat:

If you have any questions regarding chiropractic care at our office, please call us at (847) 673-6600!

Office Hours:

M/W/Th:

9am-12:30pm & 3pm-7pm

Tues:

3pm-7pm

Fri:

9am-1pm

Sat:

8am-11am (1st & 3rd only)

Click here to leave a question or comment for the staff of

Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center

5 Questions Regarding Chiropractic and the Maturing Adult

1.  Why is Chiropractic care so important for the maturing adult?

Chiropractic care is extremely important for the maturing and elderly adult because of the dramatic changes that occur in the spine with increasing age. As we age, spinal discs, joints, ligaments, muscles and other spinal tissues become weaker, less hydrated, more fibrotic, and less able to withstand normal stresses. As a result, spinal pain from spinal degeneration (arthritis) becomes more prominent, tissue injury from everyday events occurs, and the time to heal from injuries increases.

Chiropractic procedures take into consideration the nature of the aging spine and the many abnormalities present to provide a strategically effective, safe and noninvasive treatment plan. Through the use of gentle adjustive and mobilization techniques, physical therapies, and incorporation of stretching and exercise programs spinal pain is reduced, spinal stresses are decreased, flexibility and mobility are improved, and degeneration is minimized.

Treatment techniques must focus on the underlying problem and involve participation of the patient in order to be truly effective and long lasting. Treatments which solely focus on pain and other "symptoms" only, are far less effective, and are often dangerous since the conditions causing the symptoms remain untreated and uncorrected.

2.  What benefits does 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

3.  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 non-chiropractic group

· 13% of those who used chiropractic care rated their health as fair or poor compared with 32% in the non-chiropractic group

· 44% of those who used chiropractic care reported having arthritis compared with 66% in the non-chiropractic 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 non-chiropractic group

Study Coulter, PhD et al. Chiropractic and Care for the Elderly. Top Clin Chiro 1996;3(2):46-55.

4.  What can Chiropractic care at Healing Hands Wellness do for me?

Ø Chiropractic Increases Spinal Range of Motion: Increasing spinal range of motion can positively influence lives in many ways. For some, an increased range of motion means being able to bend down to pickup the grandchildren. For others, it translates into an extra 30 yards of distance out of their driver on the golf course.

Ø Chiropractic Decreases the Frequency and Severity of Back, Neck and Head Pain: The treatments utilized by chiropractors have been consistently shown to be one of the most effective and safest forms of care to treat the majority of back, neck and head pain complaints. This is because most causes of back, neck and head disorders are related to abnormalities of the soft tissue components within the spine - something doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat.

Ø Chiropractic Increases Balance and Coordination: As we age, balance and coordination become increasingly impaired. Studies have shown that the receptors located in the joints of the upper cervical spine are largely responsible for providing the brain with essential information important for balance and coordination. Research has also shown that injury to these "neck" receptors is a significant cause of balance and coordination problems in humans.

Ø Chiropractic Can Decrease Fall Injuries, as well as Other Injuries: Fall injuries are extremely prevalent in the elderly population and are one of the most detrimental events that can occur to the older individual. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are responsible for 90% of the 850,000 bone fractures which occur annually among Americans past the age of 65.  Chiropractors reduce the risk of falls by (1) utilizing specific chiropractic adjustive techniques in the cervical spine to normalize cervical joint receptors which provide the brain with important balance and coordination information, (2) utilizing stretching and exercise programs to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and coordination, and (3) utilizing diet and nutritional counseling to improve nutritional status, increase energy levels, and increase sense of well-being.

Ø Chiropractic Increases Joint Nutrition and Decreases Spinal Joint Arthritis: Spinal discs and spinal facet joints, similar to other joints, receive their nutrition and eliminate their wastes through joint movement. Without sufficient movement, adhesions and scar tissue will soon develop in the joints. Chiropractic care involves restoring and optimizing spinal and extra-spinal joint motion which brings vital nutrients into the joint and flushes toxic waste products out. This helps keep the joints healthy and minimizes the degenerative joint changes which lead to arthritis.

Ø Chiropractic Decreases Joint and Tissue Degeneration through Optimizing Biomechanics: Similar to an out-of-aligned wheel on an automobile, a misaligned spine with abnormal biomechanics will wear out prematurely. As all moving parts will eventually wear down over time, it's important to get the maximum "mileage" out of your spine, especially since it's the only one you'll ever get. Chiropractic care is focused on optimizing spinal biomechanics which reduces spinal stress and, as a result, decreases spinal degeneration and other arthritic changes.

Ø Chiropractic Increases Health and Well-Being: When you're free from nagging pain, stiff joints and can do the things you enjoy (golf, gardening, playing with the grandchildren, etc.) life is far more enjoyable. Feeling good, staying healthy and doing the things that make us happy are what keeps us looking forward to each new day. Regular chiropractic care in those over the age of 40 is aimed at increasing the quality of life, and not just the elimination of pain and correction of soft tissue abnormalities. Don't cheat yourself from living life to its fullest... call today and let us get you started on a personalized health plan.

5. Is Chiropractic care at Healing Hands Wellness covered by Medicare?

After the initial consultation and examination, Medicare covers nearly all of the chiropractic adjustment, the main technique used in your treatment. Often times, the patient has a secondary insurance which pays the small balance left over that Medicare does not cover. Medicare’s coverage allows chiropractic care at Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center to be affordable to all seniors!

Chiropractic & Senior Citizens

All content copyright © Healing Hands Wellness & Chiropractic Center Ltd.

  www.HealingHandsOfSkokie.com                                                                        phone: (847) 673-6600          fax: (847) 673-6601