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FEATURE STORY / CHIROPRACTIC & EXERCISE
Like many chiropractors
have for decades, my
father used exercises in his
practice,” Dr. Takes said.
“What is really exciting
is how the utilization and sophistication
of exercise has grown over the last ten to
twenty years as our understanding of its
impact in association with other therapies
has developed.” Dr. Takes, a Certified
Strength and Conditioning Specialist,
has had the benefit of a front row seat to
this evolution as the National Manager of
Chiropractic Service for GoodLife Fitness
Clubs, Ltd. He has always believed that
exercise is an integral part of chiropractic
treatment plans and a strong component of
chiropractic care.
“Chiropractic empowers us to treat the
underlying cause of a condition,” Dr. Takes
said. “Exercise is one way we can extend the
impact of those treatments by reforming
the function of the related musculature and
tissue.” It is a powerful tool that can help
chiropractors and their patients to not only
reach their therapy goals but also maintain
their gains. Especially when combined with
manual techniques and patient education in
a chiropractic treatment plan.
18
SPRING 2014
Evidence and Market Trends
O
ne potential reason why exercise
therapy is becoming more
popular among chiropractors is
the growing array of evidence that supports
the inclusion of an exercise component in
treatment plans. Two areas where exercise
therapy is particularly supported in research
were discussed in the last issue of ON
Chiropractic. Exercise therapy is a wellregarded component of the management of
osteoarthritis. While there is no evidence to
conclude that exercise is disease modifying,
research does suggest that exercise can
significantly improve the quality of life of
patients with osteoarthritis. Several studies
have corroborated this finding. The benefits
come most easily when the prescribed
exercise regimen fits individual patients’
lifestyles, thus maximizing adherence.
The value of exercise for patients
preparing for and recovering from surgery
is also well documented. Current research
suggests that total joint arthroplasty
patients are well served by a treatment
plan that includes a pre-operative regimen
focussing on diet, education, exercise and
range of motion therapies in addition
to post-operative rehabilitation. Most
prehabilitation regimens for total joint
arthroplasty call for a combination of
aerobic and strengthening exercises.
Another reason why the utilization
of exercise as a therapeutic tool may
have grown is the increasing level of
understanding of the value of exercise
and wellness within the public. We have
been hearing for years that a significant
demographic shift is coming. Baby Boomers
are not planning on aging in the typical
way. USA Today reported in 2011 that a
consumer research firm had pegged the
value of the “anti-aging” market in the U.S.
at about $80 billion and predicted it to rise
to $114 billion by 2015. The Canadian
market will not be nearly that large, but the
cultural trends are similar. The impact being
that in the next two decades the 9,000,000+
Canadians that Statistics Canada reports are
aged 50 to 69 today will be seeking support
from an array of health care providers to
maintain and even improve their health and
wellbeing. Chiropractors who utilize the full
range of therapeutic approaches, including
exercise programs, will be well suited to
serve that population and help it redefine
aging.