One of the greatest feelings for us at DMC Health & Wellness is when a patient refers in their family – whether that be their children, parents, or grandparents. Some people may not know that chiropractic care can be valuable for people of all ages. As we age, our bodies change, so we need different types of care at different points in our lives. In this insight, we will explore how we adapt chiropractic care throughout a person’s life, and the pivotal role it can play in your health and wellness.
Chiropractic care for children
During younger years, it’s important to make sure our bodies are developing properly, as there’s lots of potential issues to look at for during this stage. One of the major types of conditions we look out for is changes in spinal curvatures, such as scoliosis. Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spinal which tends to develop around the age of 10-16 and is more common in females (1). If you suspect your child is developing a scoliosis, or you’re concerned about their posture, it’s important to get them appropriately assessed to determine if treatment is needed.
The second major aspect of working with children is managing sporting related injuries. Exercise is a crucial part for developing a child’s strength, balance and coordination. But it can also lead to injuries or make them more suspectable to injuries in the future. Chiropractic can play a key role in keeping your child playing by assessing their movement and technique to reduce the risk of future injury.
No matter the condition, we always adapt the type of care we provide to suit a child’s age and stage of development. We use more gentle, lower force techniques for their joints to reduce pain and restore function, as well as exercise rehabilitation to prevent future injury.
Chiropractic care for parents
For adults, chiropractic care is more commonly sought out for pain relief. With busy, stressful work and family schedules, health can often be an afterthought for many. This can lead to a build-up of back pain, neck pain or headaches, until it gets to the point where it starts affecting their day-to-day lives. Chiropractic care can help address these problems and promote a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Chiropractic care for adults may initially involve a more specific approach to manage their pain condition such as spinal adjustments or dry needling to key joints/muscles. The goal is to first get them out of the acute pain episode, so we can then focus on instilling better lifestyle habits to prevent further episodes. Preventative care can involve education around pain self-management, stress reduction, and maintaining physical activity. If you feel like you’re stuck in a constant cycle of pain, injury and stress, it might be time to check in with your chiropractor and take control again.
Chiropractic care for grandparents
Over the years, our bodies undergo natural wear and tear. Older adults often experience degenerative changes in their spine, joints, and muscles, which can lead to joint stiffness, and reduced mobility. Chiropractic care can be a non-invasive way to manage these issues and improve quality of life. Research from our very own Dr McNaughton has shown how the trajectories of back pain in older adults can differ based on the above factors (2). This means we can adapt a treatment plan to suit your specific situation. Care for older adults is more focused on more on maintenance and improving quality of life.
For older adults, we use gentle adjustment techniques to reduce joint pain/stiffness and improve mobility. Another key aspect of care for older adults is addressing strength, balance and coordination to reduce the risk of falls. We prescribe home exercises, as well as teach correct technique for daily activities to ensure you remain active and independent.
Regardless of age, we adapt our treatment to suit the whole family. Whether you’re seeking to address a specific condition or simply maintain overall health, chiropractic care can be an effective, non-invasive solution for people of all ages. If you’re unsure of how chiropractic care can benefit you and your family, get in touch with the team at DMC Health & Wellness today!
About the authors
David McNaughton is a clinician, researcher and lecturer. He is the director and principal chiropractor at DMC Health & Wellness. He has an extensive background in the diagnosis and management of chronic pain. In addition to his clinical studies, David holds a Master’s of Research and PhD in Psychology. He regularly publishes his research in peer reviewed medical and psychology journals. David has taught both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Chiropractic and Psychology.
Isaac Searant completed a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science, Master of Chiropractic and Master of Research at Macquarie University. His research aims integrate chiropractic and physiotherapy into general practice for the effective management of low back pain. His clinical interests include spinal pain (neck and back) and sporting injuries. Regardless of the condition, his goal as a chiropractor is to work collaboratively with patients.
References
- Weinstein SL, Dolan LA, Cheng JC, Danielsson A, Morcuende JA. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The lancet. 2008 May 3;371(9623):1527-37.
- McNaughton DT, Roseen EJ, Patel S, Downie A, Øverås CK, Nim C, Harsted S, Jenkins H, Young JJ, Hartvigsen J, Wong JJ. Long-term Trajectories of Low Back Pain in Older Men: A Prospective Cohort Study With 10-Year Analysis of the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. The Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2024 Sep;79(9):glae175.
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