The United Nations has declared the years 2020-2030 the “Decade of Healthy Ageing”, with an emphasis to foster healthy ageing and improve the lives of older people and their families and communities. Most health systems around the world are ill-prepared to address the needs of older people, who often have multiple chronic conditions and physiological decline. With an ageing population, health systems must be capable of providing older person-centred and integrated care and focus on maintaining functional capacity as people age.
Musculoskeletal conditions in older adults are the greatest threat to healthy ageing. Most older adults have at least one musculoskeletal complaint, musculoskeletal conditions are more prevalent in older adults than in younger adults and musculoskeletal conditions are often more severe and debilitating.
It is imperative that the chiropractic profession globally has a strong platform to reduce barriers to the uptake of evidence-based musculoskeletal care for older adults. Strategies for the profession should be to integrate within healthcare systems, and to provide high value care such as advice, education, exercise, psychological therapies and manipulation.
This thematic series of Chiropractic & Manual Therapies invites authors to submit manuscripts that strengthen local and global initiatives to not only decrease the burden of musculoskeletal diseases but improve function, quality of life and reduce health inequities in the elderly. This includes studies related to musculoskeletal conditions, falls, non-communicable chronic health conditions, osteoarthritis, osteopenia, mental well-being and cognitive functioning. As well as studies on the clinical encounter, healthy ageing, physical activity, exercise prescription, (pre)-habilitation, medications, community led interventions, and residential aged care.
