I often get asked by new patients over the age of 60 visiting me for their first consultation, ‘What are the benefits of Bristol osteopathic treatments for elderly patients?’, and there are a number of factors to consider.
At least 25% of the patients I treat are over 60, and the majority of their symptoms are pain in the neck, lower back, hips or knees.
As we get older, the body is more susceptible to wear and tear. Wear of the cartilage within the joints is what we call arthritis. This becomes more prevalent as we age and older patients often complain of stiffness, soreness or general aches and pains.
Whilst arthritis cannot be cured, utilising osteopathic treatments can help to mobilise the affected areas, increase blood-flow, and increase mobility of joints. This in turn will improve the overall health of the area(s).
Elderly patients often find great benefit in receiving osteopathic treatment to help these aches and pains.
I see many of my elderly patients on a regular basis, helping them to loosen up and to provide a better overall quality of life with better and easier movement.
Many older patients are more willing to be treated with osteopathy these days, and with the NHS being so over-stretched across Bristol, they find osteopathic treatment an accessible solution to help their movement issues.
I always carry out a full and thorough assessment for each patient, to ensure that any osteopathic treatments provided are age and health appropriate.
I encourage all my elderly patients to stay active and keep moving. Taking a proactive approach with gentle exercise such as gardening and walking can make a huge difference in mobility and movement.
Age specific exercises and classes are also fantastic options for older people, with Aqua Fit becoming more popular, as well as dedicated Yoga and Pilates classes for the over-60s being widely available across Bristol.
I came across a wonderful group recently called the Silver Swans, which offers ballet classes in Bristol for the elderly. One of my patients is loving it!
To find out more about Silver Swans in Bristol, please visit here.
I have a number of osteopathic services available to patients in Bristol, and there are specific groups that I assist, including the elderly, sports injuries, and desk-based office workers – please visit here to find out more.
To book online for my osteopathic services in BS6 specifically for elderly people in Bristol, please visit here.
To find out more about the full range of osteopathic treatments that I provide for elderly patients across Westbury Park, Clifton, Redland, Cotham and Henleaze, please visit here.