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Aging Well Through Chiropractic
By Holly O’Dell
By promoting healthy spines, nerve systems and lifestyles, chiropractors are in a position to greatly influence the care of an aging population.
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It’s no secret that Americans are living longer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has most recently reported a life expectancy of 77.6 years—a record high. Furthermore, in 2005, the U.S. Social Security Administration increased the official life span (how long a person is capable of living) to 119. Those in their 70s, 80s and beyond might not have expected to live as long as they have, but they’re starting to understand what it takes to feel great as they grow older. And baby boomers approaching their later years don’t want to simply age—they want to age well. Both generations present a unique opportunity for chiropractors to lead the way in maintaining and enhancing the health of an aging population.
Understanding the Needs Of Older Patients
In the foreword of the chiropractic textbook “Chiropractic Care of the Older Patient” by B.J. Gleberzon, geriatric researcher Dr. John Morley talks of the importance of chiropractic’s role with an aging population. “Much of medicine in the last century focused on technological advances prolonging life,” writes Morley, director of geriatric research at the Education and Clinical Center at St. Louis University Health Science Center. “Unfortunately, in the rush to embrace ‘high-tech’ concepts, there has been a tendency to forget that for most older persons, ‘high-touch’ concepts are as important in maintaining function and quality of life. Chiropractors are one such group whose ‘high-touch’ approach is focused on pain relief, functional improvement and prevention.”
At the core of caring for seniors is the obvious adjustment. But chiropractors understand that correcting subluxations is just one part of the wellness equation. As such, involving patients in their own care becomes more important than ever in a population prone to the pitfalls of aging, such as arthritis, osteoporosis and even memory lapses. “A chiropractor can complement the adjustment with lifestyle modification and coaching, where the chiropractor and patient work together as a responsible team for a patient’s wellness,” says Hussein Elsangak, D.C., an assistant professor at Life University who also conducts post-graduate seminars on anti-aging. “This means that the patient actively participates in the care by following a chiropractic wellness program, which is regular chiropractic care along with proper lifestyle, nutrition and exercise.”
The exercise component is particularly relevant for seniors, according to Lisa Killinger, D.C., associate professor at Palmer College of Chiropractic. “The majority of chiropractors in the field spend time talking to patients about the importance of physical activity, an important step to overall patient wellness,” she says. “This advice is most important in older patients, since more than 33 percent of men and 50 percent of women over 70 get no regular physical activity [according to the health initiative Healthy People 2010]. Chiropractors, in counseling our patients on physical activity, can contribute to improving the health of our aging nation.”
But what’s the best way to encouraging physical activity in tandem with chiropractic care? Roger Russo, D.C., and Anthony Lauro, D.C., believe they have found the perfect harmony between the two concepts through their program, Stay Fit Seniors. The program is a D.C.-supervised, 30-minute circuit-training session that uses safe hydraulic equipment, combined with health education and chiropractic care. As long as they receive two adjustments per month, participants age 60 and up can exercise free for life.
“Seniors have everyone telling them to exercise, but there’s no one in the exercise industry servicing them,” Lauro says. “We have a lot of people who went to Curves, but it’s geared toward younger women. Our whole circuit is designed for the needs of seniors. The program has been a home run with seniors. They’re coming back [from their medical doctors] with better blood work and bone density.”
Upon entering the program, participants receive a thorough health-history exam from a chiropractor. Based on their unique health needs, they are given gentle adjustments using Activator and low-force techniques. Stay Fit Seniors has also become a great recruiting tool for the practice side of the program, as participants are referring their children and grandchildren to the chiropractors. “We’re creating great chiropractic patients because they’re getting adjusted, they’re exercising and they’re here long enough to get the big idea,” Lauro says.
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To further lend credence to their cause, Russo and Lauro have hired 92-year-old Jack LaLanne, the “godfather of fitness,” as Stay Fit Seniors’ spokesperson. “The chiropractic profession doesn’t realize that LaLanne is a chiropractor by training,” Lauro says. “He and his wife get adjusted regularly and their daughter is a chiropractor. The fact that he lives by chiropractic principles just makes it all the better. What’s great about bringing him on board is that this generation grew up watching him on TV.”
Russo and Lauro have opened three centers in Rockland County, N.Y., with plans to go national. “There’s no better profession than chiropractic to deliver this program because of our background to take care of people,” Lauro says. “And seniors feel safe and comfortable doing it.”
Although Stay Fit Seniors is not yet available in all areas, chiropractors can still creatively encourage activity among their patients. Killinger recommends that chiropractors hold a “Walk 1,000 Miles” campaign wherein all patients over 50 count their steps, convert them to miles and together walk 1,000 miles over a period of several months. Upon completion of the program, participants would receive a free T-shirt promoting the program and chiropractic office. “The chiropractor can even have some patients meet on specified days and times to walk together,” Killinger suggests. “And if the chiropractor goes along, this creates a very positive image of the chiropractor and the profession as a champion of healthy aging. You’ve got a simple, smart idea to promote health and raise awareness of your role in overall health and wellness.”
What the Future Holds
As seniors become more apt to seek chiropractic care, expect an even greater shift with the aging boomers. This population looks at their wellness much differently than any generation preceding them, says Eric Plasker, D.C., who has written a new book called “The 100-Year Lifestyle.”
In his book, Plasker posits that today’s centenarians have been blindsided by their longevity, and their quality of life has suffered for it. But the rest of us, starting with baby boomers, can prepare to live a healthy, happy life that takes us to age 100 and beyond. “Senior citizens have been misnamed. They were given that name with the understanding that they were not expected to live past 60,” he says. “They’re junior citizens. Somebody who’s 65 years old really has 35 years left to get to 100.”
Plasker discusses many factors that will take us into our second century, including a new “health care hierarchy.” The hierarchy comprises three types of care. One is self care, or all the things we do for ourselves to keep us healthy and active. These include good breathing techniques and posture. Next is health care, which includes everything from spinal adjustments to early-detection testing. Crisis care is just as it sounds—managing a crisis through health care professionals. “The goal with the health care hierarchy is to live an active, quality life and to put off the crisis for as long as possible,” Plasker explains.
Baby boomers are expecting a different life than their predecessors—and chiropractic is the perfect profession to usher them, Plasker says. “They’re understanding the importance of the 100-year lifestyle because they’re seeing the choices their parents and grandparents made, and they don’t want to be like them,” he says. “They want to lead active, healthy lives. [Chiropractors] need to lead and teach people this concept—how to make the most of their lives—and give them the health care leadership they’re really looking for.”
Life Center for Seniors
For 20 years, Life University has welcomed seniors as a valuable part of the campus through the Life Center for Seniors. For a small fee, seniors join the center and use the University’s wellness center and take a variety of courses, including fitness, flexibility, tai chi, yoga, golf, computer, art and financial training. The older adults can also receive adjustments from the students under faculty supervision.
Marge Pizzolato joined the senior center several years ago after her husband, Nicholas, took a flexibility class at Life and encouraged her to try it. She now heads up the center’s volunteer program, organizing seniors to donate their time on campus through activities such as handing out materials at seminars. At 72, Pizzolato finds that the senior center is a perfect match for her lifestyle. “When you’re a senior and retire and realize there’s another day of nothing, that’s not good,” she says with a laugh. “This makes you feel you have a purpose. It’s a nice bunch of active, social seniors participating.”
In addition to the camaraderie, Pizzolato enjoys being a part of an organization that is so welcoming to an older population. “I appreciate what Life is offering seniors,” she says.
“We [members] hope we’re giving back to the University because we enjoy what they’re doing.”
Vital Point:
Recent research at Princeton University has demonstrated that some parts of the brain do grow new brain cells. The chiropractic lifestyle addresses the whole self as we age. Exercise and proper nutrition are vital, but so are staying engaged in your community and keeping your mind active.
©2006 Today's Chiropractic