Review
The role of chiropractic care in older adults
1 Research Department, New York Chiropractic College, 2360 State Route 89, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, USA
2 School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA
3 Logan College of Chiropractic, Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
4 Anesthesiology & Psychiatry, VA Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh 15261, USA
5 U. of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street Pittsburgh, PA 1526, USA
6 Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, 6100 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON M2H 3J1, Canada
7 Palmer College of Chiropractic, 1000 Brady St, Davenport, IA 52803, USA
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2012, 20:3 doi:10.1186/2045-709X-20-3
Published: 21 February 2012Abstract
There are a rising number of older adults; in the US alone nearly 20% of the population will be 65 or older by 2030. Chiropractic is one of the most frequently utilized types of complementary and alternative care by older adults, used by an estimated 5% of older adults in the U.S. annually. Chiropractic care involves many different types of interventions, including preventive strategies. This commentary by experts in the field of geriatrics, discusses the evidence for the use of spinal manipulative therapy, acupuncture, nutritional counseling and fall prevention strategies as delivered by doctors of chiropractic. Given the utilization of chiropractic services by the older adult, it is imperative that providers be familiar with the evidence for and the prudent use of different management strategies for older adults.
