With natural aging, more aches, pains, and common disorders that sometimes come with or without treatment, generally occur.
As we age one is more likely to develop arthritis, bone and joint disorders, and in many cases, cancer. Aging brings about more frailty, bones become weakened, joints wear down, the mind is sometimes affected, and when one suffers from arthritis they may not be able to use hands as effectively as before.
Many times the elderly deal with the pain that’s left undiagnosed and untreated. There are a variety of techniques and plans that can be implemented in order to prevent that from happening.
How to Prevent Undiagnosed and Untreated Pain?
Regular check-ups with the doctor while aging is important to help ensure that any new pain is addressed. In addition, while doctor visits are important, in some cases seeing a chiropractor can help address and manage certain pain.
At my Wasilla chiropractic clinic, we focus on maximizing your health by helping to provide relief to any level of pain you may be experiencing. Whether that pain is due to age or lifestyle, seeing a chiropractor can bring many great benefits to your life.
Chiropractors specialize in finding pains and pressures that your average doctor may not address or may not even be aware of. There are pains that hide under the spine and pressures that come against the spine that one isn’t sure of until after seeing a chiropractor or until going through with that first adjustment.
Much of the pain one can begin to experience is due to a simple misalignment within the spine, but keep in mind that all elderly may not be able to visit the chiropractor and go through with certain procedures. The skin may be too sensitive and the bones and body may not be able to handle such pressure, so it’s always best to check with your doctor first.
Common Pains In The Elderly Include:
- Joint pain
- Neck pain
- Body stiffness
- Lower back pain
Two of the main causes of those specific pains include:
Degenerative Disk Disease: This is a condition where the intervertebral discs within the back are beginning to wear down, leaving the bone to begin to rub against bone, causing there to be a pain in the back that is sometimes unbearable. It’s an age-related disease that many times aids in the reduction of flexibility and mobility in the body.
Arthritis [2 of the most common types: Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid]: Arthritis is a disease that causes inflammation to come upon the body. That inflammation leads to good and bad tissues being attacked as the body fights itself. Inflammation, generally speaking, is a good thing for the body, as it’s when the white blood cells come in to fight off anything foreign. However with arthritis, there is nothing for the inflammation to fight off, but because it stays it then begins overtaking the body.
All pain isn’t chronic. When it’s short-lived and does not last for more than a month or two at a time, it’s generally pretty safe to deal with the pain head-on with over the counter medications, stretches, exercise, and any other at-home remedies.
It’s safe to see a professional rule out anything that could come with potential risks when the pain is chronic and lasts more than a month at a time.
Can Walking Help Reduce Aches And Pains?
Walking is proven to benefit the body in many different ways. Whether elderly, pregnant, or in high school, walking is a great exercise for the body that provides multiple health benefits for the body.
American Senior Communities recommends the elderly being active for at least 20 minutes a day. That can easily be fit in by taking a daily walk.
Some Benefits Of Walking Include:
- Improving heart health
- Increasing joint mobility
- Lowering blood sugar
- Boosting and promoting mental health
Any form of exercise is great for the heart due to its ability to cause the blood to pump more in order to keep up with the actions your body is taking. More blood being pumped means the heart is working harder, and the more we work our heart to keep it in full operation, the greater the chances that it won’t fail.
The more you get up to move around, the more your muscles and joints will become acclimated with those daily movements and activities.
As one ages they may wake up in the morning feeling stiff. Engaging in consistent exercise helps to cut down on the level of stiffness and pain associated with a lack of consistent mobility.
What better way helps clear the mind than by taking a stroll in the park? As one ages, it’s common to experience certain levels of dementia, and some elderly suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. The last thing you’d want to do in those cases is strip away daily activities, including exercise, which calls on the mind to help when making movements.
It’s not uncommon for one to experience Alzheimer’s and still remember how to get up, get dressed, and brush their teeth. The body and muscles do not forget the activities that we train them to act out.
How Does Walking Reduce Pain?
The less active an elderly person becomes may reduce their abilities to move around and stay active in the long run. Once an elderly person no longer remains active their risk for becoming disabled increases.
Studies show that walking (low-impact activity) decreases the chances of becoming disabled due to arthritis. This is because consistently walking or performing any other type of low impact activity strengthens the muscles and keeps the flexibility within the body at a decent level. However, it’s primarily the strengthening that decreases pain.
The stronger the muscles are, the less they have to work to simply perform daily activities. The stronger the muscles, the more they’re able to assist the body when walking, lifting, gardening, eating, and all other activities that calls on the limbs and strength of the body to result in fewer injuries.
About Dr. Brent Wells
Dr. Brent Wells, D.C. is the founder of Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab and has been a chiropractor for over 20 years. His practice has treated thousands of patients using various services designed to help give you long-lasting relief from different health problems, such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physical therapy in Wasilla, Anchorage, and Juneau.
Dr. Wells is also the author of over 700 online health articles that have been featured on sites such as Dr. Axe and Lifehack. He is a member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians. And he continues his education to remain active and updated in all studies related to neurology, physical rehab, biomechanics, spine conditions, brain injury trauma, and more.
