Clinical
ON Chiropractic
HEALTHY AGING & E XERC I S ES
A
Healthy Aging
Loosen Up in Your Golden Years
significant demographic shift is coming as Baby Boomers begin to retire.
50%
This shift will be reflected in chiropractors’ patient rosters. Baby Boomers
are not planning on aging in the typical way. And many have the resources
and the determination to redefine aging. How can chiropractors help them
of all falls causing
hospitalization happen
at home.
accomplish this goal?
I
n the next few decades, over nine
million Canadians aged 50 to 69 today
will be seeking support from an array
of health care providers to maintain
and improve their health and wellbeing.
Chiropractors will be part of that team
and will help Boomers to redefine
healthy aging. USA Today reported in
2011 that the value of the “anti-aging”
market in the U.S. had been pegged at
about $80 billion and was predicted to
rise to $114 billion by 2015.
The rates of several health
conditions increase with age, including
osteoarthritis, heart disease, diabetes
and obesity. But falls are the leading
cause of injury among older Canadians,
with up to 30% of seniors experiencing
one or more falls each year.
For seniors, falling can have serious
consequences including chronic pain,
reduced mobility, loss of independence
and even death. According to the Public
Health Agency of Canada’s Senior Falls
in Canada: Second Report (2014), falls
are responsible for 85% of seniors’
injury-related hospitalizations, 95% of
all hip fractures and two billion dollars a
year in direct health care costs.
Chiropractors are prepared to play a
direct role in falls prevention, particularly
through exercise therapy. Exercise
can also be beneficial for patients with
obesity, diabetes and other age-related
conditions.
16
FALL 2015
"Research has demonstrated that exercise is
effective for community-dwelling older people
and should be included in a multifactorial
approach. Exercises that target balance,
gait and strength training are most effective
and can be offered in supervised groups or
performed individually. Physical activity can
reduce the impact of muscle loss associated
with the natural aging process and increase
mobility, physical function, bone density
and balance.”
Public Health Agency of Canada
– Seniors’ Falls in Canada:
Second Report
T
his report provides policy
makers, researchers, community
programmers and practitioners
with current national information on
how to prevent falls among seniors.
It offers an update of our knowledge
of falls, injuries and hospitalizations
∞∞ Download this print-friendly
handout: http://www.chiropractic.
on.ca/falls-prevention-2
This one-page handout includes full
instructions and photo illustrations for
three gentle stretches: an upper body
stretch, a lower back stretch and an
ankle stretch.
∞∞ Download this print-friendly
handout: http://www.chiropractic.
on.ca/fall