The Gentle, Life-Changing Support You Didn’t Know You Needed
If you or a loved one is entering your golden years and starting to feel the effects of aging—stiff joints, nagging back pain, slower movement—you’re not alone. A recent study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that people over the age of 50 simply are not getting enough activity. But here’s the truth: getting older doesn’t have to mean living with daily discomfort.
At Desert Valley Chiropractic in Phoenix Arizona, we hate to see our senior patients unable to participate in the activities that keep them young. We believe that every stage of life should be lived fully. And yes—chiropractic care is not only safe for seniors, it’s one of the smartest, most effective ways to stay mobile, independent, and thriving.
Common Activities for Older Adults
There are a variety of activities that seniors enjoy and many of them are outdoors. Statistically the most common activities older adults enjoy include walking or jogging, outdoor maintenance such as gardening, playing sports like Pickleball or Golf and of course trying to keep up with their grandchildren.
Tip – In the hot summer months considering walking in the mall. In fact, while I am writing this my daughter is shopping and I am sitting in a coffee shop at the mall. I have a few groups of people walk past me a few times already. Good Job Guys!
Common Complaints—And How We Help
We are chiropractors so yes, many people come to us initially with complaints of neck and low back pain. However, it is often more than just neck and low back pain that keep us on the couch instead of doing what we enjoy. Other areas of pain and joint dysfunction that we treat include:
Foot and Knee pain
Hip pain and restrictions
Shoulder pain and reduced range of motion
Elbow pain like golfers’ elbow or tennis elbow
Hand and wrist pain.
These aren’t just “part of getting older.” They’re signs that the body needs real support—and that’s where we come in.
Why Chiropractic Care Changes Everything
Imagine waking up and being able to move with little or no pain. Imagine walking around the grocery store, playing with your grandkids, or enjoying a round of golf—with less stiffness, less soreness and no hesitation.
That’s the power of Gentle Chiropractic Care at Desert Valley Chiropractic
Here’s what makes it such a powerful solution for seniors:
Less Pain and More Movement – We use a Gentle Chiropractic technique called The Activator Method. There is no twisting popping or cracking. We use a small but fast hand-held instrument that delivers precise adjustments, perfect for delicate joints and sensitive areas.
Reduced inflammation – The activator Method has been shown to reduce inflammation and with less swelling there is less pain and better motion.
Drug-free pain relief – Many of our patients reduce or eliminate their need for pain medications after starting care.
Improved balance and confidence – Aligning the knee’s hips and spine can enhance coordination and reduce fall risk.
Better sleep, more energy, more joy – When your body feels better, you naturally live better. Our patients often report improved mood, mobility, and even digestion after care.
It’s Never Too Late to Feel and Move Better
Whether you’re 60, 70, or 85—it’s not too late to take control of your health. In fact, starting chiropractic care now could be the best investment you make in your future quality of life.
You’ve worked hard for decades. You deserve to enjoy this chapter of life with freedom, movement, and vitality.
Call us today at 602-439-1515 and find out how chiropractic care can help you move better, feel better, and live better—at every age.
Or visit desertvalleychiropractic.com to schedule your first visit.
Curious about Family Chiropractic Care in North Phoenix? At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we love taking care of entire families—and McKenna’s story is a perfect example of why.
In this video, you’ll see Dr. Dave performing a gentle wellness adjustment for McKenna, one of our young patients who’s been under chiropractic care for just over a year. What started as a way to support her overall health has made a real difference in her life. Since beginning care, McKenna has experienced fewer ear infections and better control of her asthma—two common concerns for children.
So how does chiropractic help? By using safe, low-force Activator adjustments, we focus on improving nervous system function and reducing inflammation. For kids like McKenna, that can mean less congestion, better breathing, and a stronger immune system. No twisting or cracking—just precise, effective care tailored to growing bodies.
We believe that, in addition to regular checkups with your pediatrician and a healthy diet, chiropractic care is one of the best things you can do for your child’s health—whether it’s for pain relief, immune support, or overall wellness. Our goal is always to help kids thrive naturally and grow up strong, happy, and resilient.
If you’re curious about chiropractic for your kids—or for your whole family—we’d love to talk. Give us a call at (602) 439-1515 or visit desertvalleychiropractic.com to learn more.
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we often hear the question: “Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?” The answer is yes—but with limitations. If you’re a Medicare beneficiary seeking natural, drug-free relief from back pain, here’s a helpful breakdown of what’s covered, what’s not, and how we can help you navigate it.
What Medicare Does Cover?
Medicare Part B covers spinal manipulation by a chiropractor for the treatment of spinal complaints such as neck pain, headaches, middle back pain and low back pain. The adjustment must be considered medically necessary, which is to say there has been an acute flare up of pain, and the issue must be documented.
More simply put if you have a new pain or a flare up of an old condition then Medicare can cover your chiropractic care until the concern has become stable and reached a state of maximum improvement.
At our office, we use the Activator Method, a safe, effective, and gentle form of spinal adjustment that falls under Medicare’s definition of spinal manipulation.
What Medicare Doesn’t Cover:
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover:
Exams
Consultations
X-rays
Therapies (like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, or shockwave)
Maintenance or wellness care
This can be confusing for patients because they expect chiropractic coverage to work like a typical medical visit. But Medicare’s chiropractic benefits are limited only to the adjustment itself—and only when there’s an active problem to treat.
What if I Have a Flare-Up Later in the Year?
A common question we get is: “Does Medicare only cover chiropractic care once a year?” The good news is—no, it doesn’t work that way.
If you experience another flare-up—say, from gardening, lifting something heavy, or even just playing with the grandkids—Medicare can cover another round of care as long as it’s medically necessary. As long as you’re actively being treated for a specific problem (like back pain or spinal misalignment), Medicare may approve care until your condition stabilizes again.
So if the pain comes back, don’t wait—give us a call. We’ll help you get back on track and verify what your Medicare benefits will cover.
What if I Want to Keep Up with Monthly Checkups?
Many patients, especially those who’ve experienced severe pain ask about coming in for monthly checkups to help prevent future flare-ups. We love that proactive mindset!
Ongoing maintenance or wellness chiropractic care can be a great way to stay aligned, reduce inflammation, and keep your body moving and feeling its best. However, it’s important to know that Medicare does not cover wellness or maintenance care—they only cover visits when there is an acute or active issue.
That said, many of our patients choose to continue monthly visits because they feel the difference it makes. These visits are self-pay, and we’re always happy to discuss affordable options in the office if you’d like to stay on track with your care.
Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) and Medicare Advantage Plans
If you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, it may cover your co-insurance or deductible for covered adjustments. If you’re on a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, coverage can vary widely. Some plans cover more services, and some require pre-authorization—so always check with your provider.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we know insurance can be confusing. We’re happy to verify your Medicare benefits and help you understand your options. Call us at 602-439-1515 or visit desertvalleychiropractic.com to schedule your consultation.
Activator Chiropractic Care in Action. Curious about how chiropractic care can help without the twisting or cracking? In this video, Dr. Dave demonstrates a full-body adjustment using the Activator Method—our go-to technique for safe, gentle, and effective care. This handheld tool allows us to make targeted corrections that help restore motion, reduce inflammation, and improve nervous system function. Watch the video to see how it works and why our patients love this approach!
Move More and Stress Less! At Desert Valley Chiropractic, our mission is simple: help you feel better, move better, and live better. And one of the best ways to do that? Keep moving.The research is clear, regular movement not only supports joint health, balance, and brain function, but it also plays a major role in increasing your lifespan and improving the quality of your years.
But there’s a catch: to stay active long-term, your body needs to be in alignment so it can function. That’s where chiropractic care comes in. The better your joints move, the better you move!
Exercise: It Doesn’t Have to Be Intense to Be Impactful
We often hear patients say they’re intimidated by the idea of “exercise”—but movement doesn’t have to mean running marathons. The best exercise is the one you enjoy and can stick to consistently. Especially during Arizona’s hottest months, consider fun and accessible indoor options like:
Dance or barre classes
Gentle yoga or Pilates (great for flexibility and core strength)
You can go to a studio or check out free videos on you tube.
Mall walking with a friend
Indoor pickleball
Bodyweight workouts at home (yes, squats + Netflix is a thing!)
And don’t forget hydration matters. Summer heat can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, and joint stiffness. A good rule of thumb? Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily—and adjust based on heat or activity.
Why Chiropractic Care Is the Foundation for Healthy Movement
When you start to feel pain or restriction in your movement, even if it’s subtle that is the time to consult your chiropractor. Committing and sticking to your care plan is essential for progress, but when those sticky joints start to move freely and you’re not having pain your body will be primed to perform.
We constantly see the benefit of continuing with maintenance care after symptoms fades key to keeping your body performing at its best. Regular chiropractic adjustments:
Reduce inflammation
Improve joint mobility
Restore natural movement patterns
Help your nervous system regulate stress
Support recovery from workouts and everyday life
This means you can keep up with the things you love: your workouts, morning walks, pickleball games, hikes, or chasing after grandkids.
Move more and Stress Less!
Movement and alignment don’t just affect your body, they affect your mind, too. Exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage stress, release endorphins, and boost your mood. In fact in studies have shown exercise to be as effective as medication with mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
Movement and exercise are truly one of the most effective ways to manage stress in our lives. When we exercise our bodies release endorphins, and while endorphins naturally help our mood (the runners high), they also reduce the negative effects of cortisol.
When cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—stays elevated for too long, it can take a serious toll on your health, including:
Increased inflammation
Suppressed immune function
Anxiety, mood swings, and brain fog
Disrupted sleep patterns
Weight gain, especially around the midsection
Blood sugar imbalances
Slower healing and recovery from injuries
Bonus! When you combine exercise with regular chiropractic care helps it can help regulate your nervous system, especially the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) side, which can naturally lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer, sleep better, and recover faster.
Other helpful stress-busting habits include:
Breathwork or meditation
Regular sleep (and adjusting the neck to support it!)
Walking outdoors during cooler parts of the day
Taking breaks to stretch during work
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we believe movement is medicine—and chiropractic keeps the prescription going strong. If you would like our help to keep your joints moving so you can keep thriving, please call us today at 602-439-1515 or schedule online.
The Power of Posture: Why Good Posture is Vital for Your Health?
We often hear about the Power of Posture, but why it is so important to our health? Good posture does more than improve appearance; it keeps our bodies balanced, reduces strain, and supports overall wellness. Poor posture, on the other hand, can lead to a surprising array of health issues. Here’s why posture matters, common symptoms that arise from poor posture, and how chiropractic care can support you in maintaining healthy alignment.
Supports Proper Alignment and Reduces Pain
When we slouch or carry poor posture, the spine often falls out of alignment, which places extra stress on muscles, ligaments, and joints. This misalignment can lead to chronic neck pain, shoulder tension, and lower back pain as the body strains to compensate. Common symptoms of poor alignment include:
– Persistent Neck Pain and Headaches: The human head weighs anywhere from 10-12 pounds. As we crane our heads forward look at a screen or down on our phones (text neck) it can add anywhere from 27-60 pounds of additional pressure on the cervical spine. This leads to misalignments on the spine, causing tension, neck pain and headaches.
– Lower Back Pain: Many patients don’t consider their lower back when considering posture. However, poor posture can put an increase load onto the lumbar spine, leading to pain in the low back and through the hips. It is critical to sit in a chair with good lumbar support. If your chair does not have good support consider rolling up a towel and placing it in the small of your back.
– Degenerative joint disease: When we have bad posture it can add a great deal of abnormal pressure or load on the entire spine. Overtime with altered weight bearing the joints wear out leading to arthritic changes or degenerative joint disease.
*Chiropractic Tip*: Regular adjustments can correct these misalignments, helping release tension and improving posture by guiding your spine into healthy alignment.
Protects Against Organ Compression and Aids in Better Breathing and Digestion
Slouching or hunching over doesn’t just impact your back and neck; it can compress internal organs as well. This compression can restrict lung capacity and affect breathing efficiency, leading to shallow breaths. No doubt you have heard the term “sitting is the new smoking” .
Poor posture also places pressure on the stomach and intestines, which can slow digestion and lead to discomfort.
147% increased risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke.
90% increased risk of death from cardiovascular events.
49% increased risk of death from any cause.
*Wellness Insight*: It is important to take regular breaks when sitting. Try to get up at least once every 30 minutes. By maintaining better posture, you support healthy breathing, efficient digestion, and promote circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Impacts Mental Well-being and Energy Levels
Poor posture doesn’t just affect your physical health; it can also impact mental well-being. Slouching or carrying poor posture is associated with lower energy levels, mood swings, and even decreased focus. Over time, poor posture can contribute to a cycle of fatigue, stress, and low mood, with common symptoms including:
– Fatigue: Poor posture strains muscles, leading to tiredness.
– Difficulty Focusing: Shallow breathing can reduce oxygen to the brain, impacting concentration. Headaches from bad posture can also contribute to difficulty focusing.
– Mood Shifts and Increased Stress: Studies show that poor posture can contribute to feelings of anxiety and low self-confidence.
Chiropractic Connection: Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine, which helps alleviate nervous system stress and improves overall mood, mental clarity, and confidence.
Solutions for Maintaining Good Spinal Health
Maintaining good posture is essential for maintaining good spinal health. Here are some solutions for maintaining good posture.
– Mindful Sitting and Standing: We have all heard it before but sit up straight. Avoid slouching; keep your back straight, with ears, shoulders, and hips aligned.
– Frequent Movement: Prolonged sitting strains posture. Stand, stretch, and move around every 30 minutes.
– Core Strength: A strong core provides essential support for the spine. You don’t need a six pack but you do need to work on the medium to deep core muscles to improve core strength which will help you sit and stand upright.
– Regular Chiropractic Care: “Chiropractic care plays a crucial role in maintaining proper posture by realigning the spine, which reduces muscle strain and joint stress, allowing for improved balance and support. Regular adjustments help keep your body aligned, promoting natural, upright posture and preventing long-term discomfort.”
At Desert Valley Chiropractic, we understand the power of good posture and why it is vital to your health. We’re here to support you with gentle, effective adjustments that help alleviate symptoms of poor posture and keep you moving and feeling your best. Ready to improve your posture? Schedule an appointment with us today, and let’s take the first step toward a healthier, more aligned you.
