May 2026 Healthy News from Satterwhite Chiropractic: Stay Upright: New Science on Falls and Chiropractic
THE SURPRISING WAY YOUR ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE PROTECTING YOU FROM FALLS
Falls are one of the most serious — and preventable — threats to healthy aging, and the science supporting chiropractic care as part of the solution keeps growing. New research shows that muscle loss (sarcopenia) and poor physical performance are significant predictors of falls in older adults, particularly those carrying excess weight — a reminder that what's happening inside your body matters as much as what you feel on the surface. (1) The good news? Chiropractic care looks to be part of the answer. A large real-world study drawing on over 116 million patient records found that older adults with spinal pain who underwent chiropractic spinal manipulation had a meaningfully lower fall rate over 13 months compared to matched patients who did not — 3.8% versus 5.4%. (2) A systematic review from Harvard's Osher Center also confirms that multiple fall risk factors fall squarely within the scope of chiropractic care, making your regular adjustments more than just pain relief — they may be assisting in keeping you steady on your feet. (3) Ready to talk about your (and/or a loved one’s) fall risk? So are we here at Satterwhite Chiropractic!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses the treatment of a common condition affecting older spines known as spinal stenosis and how using The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helps with pain and function.
CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Good Balance Isn't Luck — It's Practice
Recent research gives us powerful reasons to take balance seriously — and the good news is you can start assessing your own risk today using the same tests doctors rely on in the office. Here's how it works: rise from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, and return to sitting — that's it. Taking longer than 12 seconds is a clinically known signal worth discussing with your chiropractor at Satterwhite Chiropractic. A 2022 pilot study found that chiropractic Cox® flexion-distraction care for lumbar spinal stenosis improved scores on exactly these kinds of functional tests — Timed Up and Go and Five Times Sit to Stand — alongside measurable improvements in balance. (4) Ready to take it a step further? Try standing on one foot — first with eyes open, then eyes closed — and see how long you can hold it. Most healthy adults can handle it; struggling is a clue your balance system needs attention. A 2026 meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials confirmed that targeted balance training — the kind that challenges your body's sensory systems the way these tests do — significantly lowered fall risk and improved stability scores in older adults. (5) Balance, like strength, responds to training. The first step is knowing where you stand…literally! Let’s see how you are doing at your next chiropractic appointment!
May your May be full of steady steps, strong balance, and a bit of self-care — we'd love to see you soon!