As therapists, we can have a signifi-cant impact on this natural decline in power and function, which declines earlier and quicker than muscular strength. Rehab for seniors should focus on what keeps them in their homes longer and ultimately, this links back to power and strength training to help these people stay fit and inde-pendent. Since you’ve already explained the concept that imagery and pain don’t always match up, you can then continue to discuss how the absolute best treat-ment for osteoarthritis is movement. Besides chiropractic adjustments, mobility and other ‘micro movement’ strategies, a fantastic exercise program that addresses this on a broad scale is the GLA:D program, based out of Denmark. According to Dr. Dionne Watson, of Rothesay, New Brunswick: A recent study of patient’s utilizing this approach for osteoarthritis, using three-month follow up results. The study demonstrated: • A 28 per cent reduction in pain in-tensity • 35 per cent of participants increased their number of moderately active days • They increased function as meas-ured by walking speed and chair sits • They significantly improved the quality of life • 90 per cent of participants felt they benefited from the program • 85 per cent said they continued to incorporate their new knowledge into daily life. OSTEOARTHRITIS NUTRITION According to Statistics Canada, 34 per cent of the elderly population are malnourished – a huge area of concern as this can lead to several problems down the road. The biggest problem in their diets appears to be that of micronutrients. Deficiency in micro-nutrients (~40 essential minerals, vita-mins and other biochemicals) is asso-ciated with increased aging and age-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. Unfor-tunately, many people will not realize they have a deficiency until old age, and by this time, it is even harder to www.canadianchiropractor.ca reverse. Here are some of the many micronutrients that contribute to these problems: ACL (acetyl carni-tine) and LA (lipoic acid) have been shown to prevent mitochondrial decay, which in turn prevents the decay of organs, including the brain. Magne-sium deficiency is associated with in-creased risk of colorectal cancer, hy-pertension and osteoporosis. Vitamin D deficiency has been strongly linked to increased incidences of nursing home admissions, and consequently, mortality. Potassium, when added to the diet, decreases cardiovascular diseases by 40 per cent. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency is associated with mel-anoma and cognitive dysfunctions. Vitamin B12 is also associated with cognitive decline and multiple sclero-sis. Something as simple as adding a multivitamin (vitamin A free) to some-one’s treatment plan could make a world of difference. athlete and the 74-year-old sedentary man varied dramatically, with the lat-ter being atrophied and shrivelled. In its simplest terms, you need a healthy heart to support a strong body. Hence if you’re strengthening your body, you’re doing the same to your heart. MENTAL HEALTH CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH In a 2012 edition of The Physician and Sports Medicine, researchers took 40 recreational masters athletes between 40-81 and compared them to each other, and a 74-year-old sedentary man. The MRI transverse sections of the 70-year-old athlete and the 40-year-old athlete varied very little, while the scans of the 70-year-old The leading mental illness in the ger-iatric population is depression. There are presently no well-designed treat-ments for the geriatric population when it comes to dealing with mental health problems. Some ways that chi-ropractors can better handle these is-sues would be to be more prepared for them. Ways this can be done would be through better education not only to the practitioner but for the patients themselves, so they have better tools to manage their mental illnesses. Some tools include preventing the onset of degenerative diseases, having better social support, and more social and health programs for the most vulner-able of the population (those living alone or living with mental/physical illnesses). Our seniors have paid their dues, and they have the right to be treated with the utmost respect. We can step up our game and do this. Taking care of those who took care of us makes the best sense. July/August 2019 Canadian Chiropractor 13 Photo: Adobe Stock
Chiropractic + Naturopathic Doctor JulyAugust 2019: Page 13
