Back Pain and the Senior Citizen Previously we talked about the focus of Chiropractic care. Chiropractic works to remove irritation from the nerves exiting the spinal cord between the bones of the spine called vertebra. The nerves are the phone lines your brain uses to communicate, control, and coordinate all the activities of your body. Therefore it is important for your nervous system to be working 100%. Your Doctor of Chiropractic is specially trained to detect and remove irritation to your nervous system as the result of structural dysfunction. An irritated nerve can easily cause you discomfort. Therefore if you remove the irritation from your nerves it makes sense that you should feel better. Chiropractic by removing nervous system irritation is actually very effective for improving back pain. The United States Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) compiled all the published research and data on back pain and the information confirmed that Chiropractic adjustments to the spine are effective in relieving back pain. The AHCPR actually recommended Chiropractic over physical therapy, drugs, and surgery and said that surgery should only be used as a last resort.   Research also shows that Chiropractic adjustments not only improve the patient's pain but they also change the biomechanics of the patient. Therefore addressing the cause of the problem, preventing future occurrence of the problem, and improving the operating efficiency of the patient. Chiropractic patients with back pain have reported better outcomes after one year or more than patients treated by physiotherapists and other forms of care. What does Chiropractic care offer for the senior citizen? The same thing it holds for all citizens. 805 Chiropractic patients, ages 55 and older were surveyed and 72.5% were seeking relief from pain. This is actually interesting that more than 1/4 of them went to their Chiropractor for reasons other than pain. Under Chiropractic care their Pain Disability index improved and maybe more importantly, their use of drugs actually declined. So to decrease your pain that may be limiting your activities why not try a visit to your Doctor of Chiropractic first? Only a Doctor of Chiropractic can determine if you can be adjusted and if Chiropractic can help you. If Chiropractic cannot help, you can always turn to drugs and surgery.