Your golden years are precious. So too are your knees and back. If those body parts’ crucial joints aren’t working right, then you may be in too much pain to enjoy your life’s longest span of free time. No walking the dog. No playing with grandchildren. No going up stairs, even!
People over the age of 65 have it the worst when it comes to their backs and knees. Studies show that 45.6% of them have back pain, and that 46.2% of seniors suffer from knee pain. It’s why an increasing number of seniors are opting for orthopedic surgery each year. It’s why 1 in 8 seniors are on opioid painkiller medications as well.
Neither of those sound like appealing options, regardless of your age. But once again, people over the age of 65 have it worst. Older adults aren’t just at higher risk of surgery-related side effects and complications. They are also more likely to experience adverse effects from opioid use – as well as wind up hospitalized (or worse) because of it.
Chiropractic Treats Knee and Back Pain
Chiropractic care is nonsurgical and drug-free by nature. That alone hardly makes it suitable for treating knee and back pain in old age, of course. It also has to work – and many studies show that it does just that.
- Chiropractic management is effective at treating symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knees. (Source)
- Manual therapy provides short-term benefits for patients with knee osteoarthritis, including reduced pain, increased range of motion, and higher physical performance. (Source)
Why Does Chiropractic Help Knee and Back Pain?
Chiropractic care is effective at treating pain arising from all joints in the human body. The facet joints of the spine and tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints of the knees are only a few among them, albeit commonly treated by chiropractors due to how often they exhibit symptoms of pain and inflexibility.
Why does chiropractic care make joint pain and stiffness go away? Primarily because it improves alignment of the spinal column and interconnected extremities, which reduces inflammation, decreases pressure on nerves, improves functionality of the central nervous system, releases natural pain-relieving endorphins, and increases blood flow to injured soft tissues. In addition to reducing pain, this potent cascade of benefits often results in improved mobility, stability, and even physical endurance.
How Does Chiropractic Treat Knee and Back Pain?
Part of the beauty of chiropractic is its expansive variety of healing modalities. So long as a treatment is beneficial, noninvasive and nonpharmacological, any chiropractor may incorporate it into their practice.
In addition to spinal manipulation, chiropractors have many tools at their disposal for treating the underlying issues behind knee and back pain. There is the Graston Technique, which breaks up adhesions and scar tissue within soft tissues surrounding the knees. There is dry needling, which directly addresses neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. There are high-tech treatments, such as cold laser therapy which stimulates blood flow to damaged soft tissues, accelerates regeneration in the same, and increases collagen production. Chiropractors also typically recommend specific stretches and exercises that reduce the risk of future injury by strengthening stabilizer muscles.
Your best course of chiropractic care depends on many factors, including your age, physical condition, and whether you are managing an acute or chronic condition. But if your issues stem from your knees or your back, then you can rest assured your chiropractor will develop a multi-pronged course of treatment to restore your ability to move freely and painlessly. Much research has been done into back and knee issues, as they are prevalent among seniors and athletes alike.
Are you ready to take your retirement back? Then we welcome you to contact Fargo Spine today to schedule a consultation at our clinic in Fargo, ND. Our doctors are experienced at treating a wide range of conditions – especially those that commonly affect the most sensitive joints of the body.