Geriatric Chiropractic in Bowmanville

Waking up stiff, finding everyday tasks harder, or noticing that your range of motion isn’t what it used to be can be frustrating. For older adults, these changes may affect everything from getting out of bed in the morning to keeping up with hobbies and everyday routines. At Baarbé Chiropractic Centre, Dr. Johannes Baarbé sees many older adults from Bowmanville and Clarington. He takes time to understand what has changed, what you’ve already tried, and what you’d like to be able to do more comfortably.

A Low-Force Approach With Age in Mind

Chiropractic care for an older adult may need to account for health conditions, medications, joint sensitivity, and other factors that become more common with age. That’s why your health history and current concerns are reviewed before deciding whether chiropractic care may be an option. Dr. Baarbé primarily uses low-force, instrument-assisted approaches rather than manual twisting or cracking. Activator Methods® and the Impulse iQ® use handheld instruments to apply a controlled force, with the approach based on your health history, examination findings, and comfort. For someone with osteoporosis or a more complex medical history, those factors require particular consideration when deciding whether and how chiropractic care should be provided.

Why Older Adults Seek Chiropractic Care

Older adults may experience stiffness, reduced range of motion, and other musculoskeletal concerns that can affect everyday activities.
Reasons someone may visit the practice include:

• Stiffness or reduced range of motion
• Musculoskeletal discomfort associated with age-related changes
• Functional concerns associated with arthritis or degenerative spinal changes
• Changes in mobility that are making everyday activities more difficult

Conditions such as arthritis, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease aren’t reversed by chiropractic care. When someone with one of these conditions visits the practice, the focus is on evaluating their musculoskeletal concerns and determining whether chiropractic care may have a role in their overall management.

Spinal Function, Balance, and Ongoing Research

Balance and coordination become increasingly relevant as we age. One area researchers have explored is proprioception, your body’s awareness of its position and movement in space. Research, including work involving Dr. Heidi Haavik and colleagues, has examined whether chiropractic care may influence aspects of sensorimotor function, including proprioception. This is an ongoing area of research and shouldn’t be taken to mean that chiropractic care prevents falls or improves balance for every patient. If you’re experiencing new or unexplained problems with balance or coordination, these symptoms may require evaluation by another healthcare provider.

Care That Starts With Listening

A first visit begins with a conversation. Dr. Baarbé will ask about your health history, current concerns, medications, what you’ve already tried, and what you hope to get from care. He’ll then perform an assessment and explain his findings in plain language. If chiropractic care may be suitable based on those findings, you’ll have an opportunity to discuss what it could involve and what you can realistically expect. If the assessment suggests another type of healthcare provider would be a better fit for your needs, you’ll be advised of the next steps. Many older patients already receive care from a family physician, specialist, physiotherapist, or other healthcare professional. With your permission, our practice is happy to communicate with other members of your healthcare team when needed.

Frequently asked questions

Am I too old to consider chiropractic care?

What happens during a first visit?

Will you work with my other healthcare providers?

Geriatric Chiropractic Bowmanville ON | (905) 623-7055