From chiropractic for older adults to problems with tech neck
You’re never too old to get adjusted
Many people think there definitely is an age when they are “too old” to get spinal adjustments.
But when you actually look at the research… that assumption doesn’t hold up.
And the results are pretty compelling.
Researchers pooled data from 10 randomized controlled trials involving 786 adults aged 55 and older with chronic low back pain.
They analyzed the actual patient-level data from the trials and compared spinal adjustments with treatments commonly recommended in clinical guidelines — such as exercise therapy or standard medical care.
Then they tracked outcomes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
The takeaway?
Spinal adjustments produced improvements in pain and function comparable to or better than those of therapies typically recommended for chronic low back pain.
What does this mean?
Older adults suffer from chronic low back pain at very high rates, and many of them are looking for non-drug options.
In fact, low back pain is one of the top reasons older adults visit a primary care physician.
But medications often carry increased risks in this population, which is why guidelines increasingly emphasize conservative care options.
That’s where chiropractic fits perfectly.
This study provides solid evidence that spinal manipulation:
• Is a valid treatment option for older adults
• Produces comparable outcomes to commonly recommended therapies
• Can help improve both pain and functional ability
And that’s powerful information to know and to apply, whether you or someone you know has problems such as chronic low back pain.
Chiropractic can help.
Why adjustments reduce pain
Article 2 – The neurophysiological response to manual therapy and its analgesic implications: A narrative review
What actually causes pain relief after a spinal adjustment?
Mechanical change?
Or nervous system change?
The takeaway?
Manual therapy pain relief is primarily neurophysiological — not structural.
What does this mean?
It’s less about “putting something back in place”… and more about turning down the brain’s pain volume knob.
Researchers found activation of:
- endorphins (natural opioids)
- endocannabinoids
- serotonin
- dopamine
- descending pain inhibition pathways (PAG/RVM system)
In today’s stressful times, it’s no wonder our nervous systems are on hyper-drive sympathetic mode, always in “fight or flight”.
Chiropractic care helps because it modulates threat: “My nervous system calms down and heals faster when we stimulate it”.
And with a well-regulated nervous system:
- You are not always in parasympathetic mode (‘rest and digest’).
- You are not always in sympathetic mode (‘fight or flight’).
- But you are able to toggle between the two as necessary.
To be able to adapt to what life throws at you.
Chiropractic can help.
Tech neck can throw your balance off
Article 3 – The relationship between forward head posture, postural control and gait: A systematic review
How many people do you see walk in with their head forward, shoulders rounded, phone posture locked in?
What problems might they have? Tight trapezius muscles, a cranky neck, maybe some headaches…
But what if it’s bigger than that?
What if their head position is quietly messing with their balance, stability, and even the way they move through life?
The takeaway?
“Tech neck” can change how well people control their body.
Not just pain… but how they stand, balance, and move.
Researchers specifically looked at:
- Postural control
- Balance performance
- Proprioception
- Gait
People with forward head posture consistently showed:
- Reduced limits of stability → Less ability to shift their weight safely without losing balance
- Worse performance-based balance → Slower, less stable on functional tests (sit-to-stand, walking, step tests)
- Impaired cervical proprioception → Poorer “head/neck position awareness”
Their brain gets worse information from the neck, which alters their balance and coordination.
What does this mean?
Forward head posture isn’t just cosmetic or ergonomic.
Your neck position changes how your brain senses where you are in space.
It’s tied to:
- Stability
- Fall risk
- Movement efficiency
- Functional performance
Correcting forward head posture can make a difference to the quality of your life and ability to live your best life.
Chiropractic can help.
3 research articles on the efficacy of chiropractic care and also, 3 reasons to see a chiropractor for a spinal check and adjustment!
Don’t wait and schedule your appointment today!
Adapted from reference: https://www.theevidencebasedchiropractor.com/
Considering chiropractic care but not sure if it is for you?
Here are links to 2-5 minute animations that help explain the benefits of chiropractic care, for the young to old.
THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE
Curious about what chiropractic care is about and how it works?
WHO SEES A CHIROPRACTOR?
What are the many reasons people give to have regular adjustments?
CHIROPRACTIC & POSTURE
Posture matters more than you think, for kids and adults.
CHIROPRACTIC & OLDER ADULTS
What are the benefits of chiropractic care for older adults?
Did you know? The term “vertebral subluxation” is commonly used in chiropractic and occurs when a spinal misalignment affects the communication between the brain and body. “Luxation” means dislocation, and “subluxation” with the prefix “sub” means “less than” a dislocation.
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