I would like to tell you about a patient of mine named Ed. Ed originally came to me for chiropractic care when he was 65 years old due to chronic low back pain. He had suffered from various degrees of back discomfort for more than 10 years. When his back was particularly bad, it affected his ability to walk normally. Ed said, “I feel like I’m tripping. I always feel like I’m going to fall.” Since Ed’s problem had persisted for many years, his chiropractic care took some time to help him. But gradually his pain subsided and, as he did so, he was able to stand up straighter and began to walk normally with a proper gait. He said, “Now that my back doesn’t hurt, I can stand up straight and walk better. I feel much firmer on my feet.”

What Ed noticed makes a lot of sense: People with lower back pain aren’t as stable on their feet and are more likely to fall. Falls are more common in the elderly. This article will discuss back discomfort and the link to the possibility of falling and causing further injury. It will also discuss a possible solution that could decrease falls among the elderly.

A recent report in the Journals of Gerontology, Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, September 2017, confirmed strong evidence that older men with back pain are more likely to fall. Surveys completed by 5,568 older men indicated that 67% experienced back pain during the year, 25% fell at least once, and 11% had recurrent falls. Further analysis showed that participants with back pain had at least a 20% increased risk of falling, with an even higher risk for those with higher severity and frequency of back discomfort. These data suggest that reducing back pain among the elderly population could reduce the risk of falls.

We have all seen people who are suffering from an episode of severe lower back pain. They are usually unable to stand upright and are hunched forward. They may also be tilted more to one side. When this is the case, they are also unable to walk well. If they must walk on an uneven surface or trip, they are more likely to fall. If an older person falls, it is more likely to be traumatic than if a younger person falls. Older people are more likely to have fractures and dislocations after a fall. Most of us know an older person who has had a hip fracture after a fall. These types of trauma require extensive medical care, possibly surgery, and may involve a lengthy period of rehabilitation. The person may even have to leave home and stay in a rehabilitation center for a long period of time.

One way to prevent falls is to reduce or eliminate low back pain. Chiropractors are specialists who are trained to find the cause of lower back problems. Chiropractic care can then be provided to reduce or eliminate lower back pain. The research study mentioned above suggests that reducing back pain could reduce a person’s risk of a fall. It is strongly recommended that anyone with low back pain who feels unsteady on their feet see a chiropractor for help. This is applicable for people of any age, but especially for older people.