As we all know life is full of unknowns, but you can take simple and practical steps now to be ready for life at any age. Currently 15% of the Australian population are aged 65 and over, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that this will increase to 22% by 2056.1 This increase in the age of the population puts additional strain on the government to provide care for older Australians.2
Chiropractors are ideally placed to assist in the healthcare of Australians as they age and potentially help improve their quality of life.3
According to the World Health Organization, musculoskeletal conditions that reduce mobility, dexterity and functional ability, are the second largest cause of disability worldwide. Musculoskeletal conditions can have a damaging effect on your quality of life by affecting your ability to participate in work, social activities and sports. In Australia, 3.7 million people reported back problems in 2015 alone.4
With statistics like these and the burden of low back pain ranking first in Australia,5 it is likely that you or someone you know could suffer from back pain. Improving posture, maintaining an active lifestyle and keeping your spinal health in check can help you continue to do the things you love and always be Ready for Life!
Chiro Can Help
One way to help you be Ready for Life and improve your spinal health is to seek chiropractic care. Chiropractors can also be seen as a preventative healthcare option by offering advice and assistance in making appropriate lifestyle choices and therefore reducing the risk of spinal health issues arising in the first place.
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1. Older Australia at a glance,2017, AIHW (online). Available at www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-aglance/contents/demographicsof-older-australians/australia-schanging-age-and-gender-profile
2. Caring for older Australians, 2010, Productivity Commission. Available at www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BriefingBook43p/ageingpopulation
3. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2016, Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care to Improve Sensorimotor Function Associated With Falls Risk in Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial,May; 39(4):267-78
4. The Burden of musculoskeletal conditions in Australia (2017), Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, www.aihw.gov.au
5. Vos.T., Flaxman, A. and Naghavi, M., Years lived with disability study for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2010. Lancet, 2012, 380: p2163-2196
