The
longevity revolution epitomised by ageing baby boomers means a broader role for
chiropractors in helping people with decreased muscle or bone density and
balance issues which add to the risk of falling, a conference of New Zealand,
Australian and International chiropractors in Auckland was told this week.
The
conference during the weekend (14th-16th September) organised by the New
Zealand College of Chiropractic heard that the implications of the baby boomer
generation reaching retirement age meant healthcare providers needed a better
understanding of the unique role chiropractic can play. Delegates learned about
the various chiropractic techniques best suited to the elderly, how to
effectively manage any rare associated risks and also a better idea of the
expectations that seniors have of their care.
Dr Graham
Dobson, chiropractor, Director of the Technique Department at the New Zealand
College of Chiropractic told the meeting that chiropractic had: `a vital part
to play in reducing pain and the need for pharmaceuticals, increasing joint
mobility and improved overall quality of life by helping to maintain function
and a positive attitude.’
He noted
that chiropractic care has often
been associated only with the management of limited musculoskeletal disorders
by the application of spinal manipulative therapy but that increasingly
chiropractors were using multiple techniques to assist the patient as a whole
by addressing the nervous system, not only his or her musculoskeletal symptoms.
Research is beginning to point at chiropractic as having a role to play in the
multi disciplinary management of people with conditions such as sarcopenia
(muscle loss) and osteoporosis.
However,
Dr Dobson warned that it is important for chiropractors to evaluate older
patients carefully to take account of factors such as osteoporosis, multiple
interactions of prescription medications as well as the risk of falls.
Research
into how chiropractic care for older people may reduce injuries and even deaths
from falls is being conducted by Auckland University and the Centre for
Chiropractic Research (CCR) at the New Zealand College of Chiropractic.
According
to Chiropractor, PhD candidate and principal investigator of the study Dr Kelly
Holt, falls often occur due to a decline in nervous system function with
advancing age. This can lead to a loss of balance, or poor control of the
limbs, which dramatically increases the risk of falling.
Dr
Holt says: `Already it is estimated that in New Zealand slips, trips and falls
cost almost $300 million per year in treatment and rehabilitation costs and as the
population ages this will likely get worse.’ He says that ‘falls result in
approximately 450 deaths per year in New Zealand and for older adults in
particular, a fall can lead to a downward spiral that involves a loss of
confidence, a cessation of day to day activities and eventually increased
frailty and even death.’
For further information on the New Zealand
Chiropractors’ Association visit www.chiropractic.org.nz.
-Ends-
Further Information:
Peter Boyes
