As a leading Bristol Osteopath, I often get asked by patients if I provide treatments for the elderly.
This question is usually asked by patients looking for osteopathic treatment for their elderly parents, relatives, or friends.
I have also had home care professionals contact me in the past to ask if I can provide osteopathy for the elderly.
The answer, of course, is yes. But from my perspective, there seem to be some common misconceptions about treating the older person with Osteopathy.
To some extent, there’s an inevitably about ageing, which might include getting arthritis, having to deal with the daily aches and joint pains and losing the ability to move with ease.
Many elderly people and some of their carers in Bristol have the belief that 'it's just ageing and nothing can be done about it'.
As an experienced osteopath in Bristol with extensive experience in treating elderly patients, I disagree with this mindset. Ageing is after all just a slow, natural process, but that doesn’t mean that parts of the body can’t still respond positively to treatment.
So much can be done to improve mobility and movement for elderly people, such as:
Staying active and mobile
Aiming to walk daily, where possible
Swimming (a great mobility exercise)
Aqua Aerobics (social and fun, but superb for health and fitness too)
Gardening (many elderly patients swear by this)
Structured elderly-centric classes such as Pilates and Yoga (balance is vital in old age). There are so many carefully planned and gentle exercise classes now for the older person, some involving sitting-down exercises for the less able…but it all helps to keep the body moving.
I also advise my elderly patients to consider the following:
Keep warm to help reduce muscle and joint stiffness and improve circulation
Good healthy diet and supplements (can help with joint inflammation)
Bath in Epsom Salts (or similar) to ease away aches and pains
Hydration - drink plenty of water daily to hydrate muscles and joints. This is something I often find neglected in the older generation.
As a Bristol Osteopath who treats elderly patients, I would point out that all muscles and joints can respond well to osteopathic treatment. This is irrespective of how worn out or arthritic they may be.
Osteopathy for the elderly at my clinic in Bristol will focus on the sensitive and careful reduction of stresses and strains.
If you know an elderly person or care for someone who thinks they are too old for osteopathic treatments, please show this article to them. It might even be you!
To find out more about how I can help adults and the elderly, please visit here.
To make a booking with me, please visit here.