Chiropractors are best known for their treatment of musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain and neck pain. These conditions frequently afflict older people. Osteoporosis is also a condition associated with aging. The increasingly fragile bones of a person with osteoporosis can play a role in the decision to seek chiropractic care and in the type of chiropractic care selected.
Osteoporosis and Aging
Between age 20 and 25, a person reaches skeletal maturity and maximum bone density is attained. Men tend to be endowed with higher bone density. With age, men and women gradually lose bone density. In the menopausal years, the rate of bone loss for women is accelerated. For these reasons, aging women are more frequently diagnosed with osteoporosis than aging men. Though bone loss and susceptibility to fracture are usually progressive with age, the World Health Organization has established a bone mineral density measurement that is 2.5 standard deviations below that of a normal young adult as the point at which a diagnosis of osteoporosis is made.
Chiropractic Treatment of Seniors
According to the American Chiropractic Association, chronic pain, usually from a musculoskeletal source, is one of the most common factors affecting function in older people. The ACA reports that 17 percent of all chiropractic patients are older than age of 65. A decrease in bone density does not, by itself, cause symptoms. In the mature adult with back pain, osteoporosis will generally only be indirectly responsible for pain in the event of a fracture of a weakened bone. In that light, osteoporosis can be a complicating factor or an incidental finding, but it is rarely the reason a patient seeks care from a chiropractor.
Chiropractic Manual Techniques
Many people associate chiropractic treatment with the high-speed applications of force to the joints that often result in popping or cracking sounds. While these techniques can be safely applied in many situations, they are not appropriate for the patient with severe osteoporosis. Alternative approaches, including low force or soft tissue techniques, can be selected in these cases. These gentler techniques offer potentially suitable options for the patient with osteoporosis or other age-related conditions.
Related Chiropractic Services
The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D along with regular exercise as strategies to combat osteoporosis. A chiropractor can be a good resource for specific dietary guidelines, which might include dosage recommendations for key nutrients such as vitamin D and calcium. A chiropractor might also provide exercise guidelines including the type, frequency, intensity and duration of exercise appropriate for this condition.
Choosing a Chiropractor
The patient who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis or is concerned that she might have osteoporosis should choose a chiropractor who has experience in treating elderly patients. The chiropractor should be interested in reviewing the results of bone density studies or X-rays taken elsewhere. He should be willing to work cooperatively with other health-care providers as needed. If the osteoporosis is advanced, the chiropractor should be willing and able to use techniques that are less forceful.
