Encouraging Data on Chiropractic Sitka Back Pain Relief
Stats. Stats. Stats. We humans are well studied: our diseases, our habits, our lives. In healthcare, data and stats can be quite helpful in improving care, particularly flow of low back pain management from conservative, non-surgical to surgical when necessary. In Sitka Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is proficient in managing this flow of back pain care and in referring when/if needed.
LOW BACK PAIN MANAGEMENT DATA
The global top cause of disability is low back pain. Diagnosis of the cause of low back pain – spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, non-specific and specific low back pain – is key to managing it. A new study stated that low back examination tests alone aren’t always useful when considered alone. (1) That is why Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka associates everything - your history, current pain, exam tests’ results, imaging, and more - to establish a diagnosis as well as a treatment plan. And not all back pain sufferers need to visit specialists like spine surgeons. Even the surgeons value it when patients who require their expertise (surgical skills) are referred to them. One recent study highlighted that of 500 cases sent to a neurosurgeon, only 22% were surgical candidates. 80% of referrals made during the study’s timeframe were thought to be not appropriate. The researchers concluded that “triaging approaches led by musculoskeletal experts may improve referral appropriateness to specialized care.” (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka agrees and is prepared to perform that role. Your Sitka chiropractor specializes in the diagnosis and management of low back pain and knows when to refer for specialized treatment like advanced imaging, surgery, etc.
DATA ON CHIROPRACTIC BACK PAIN PATIENT CARE
In the chiropractic corner of healthcare, Care Response is a packed database of details from chiropractic patients around the world. It has been gathering data for over 10 years about patient satisfaction. Two main points of feedback were on what chiropractic patients felt was good about their care and what could be improved. The good incorporated clinical outcomes (less pain, improved function, being understood as having pain and its cause), examination and explanation of the condition and its treatment, professionalism, friendliness, feeling valued as a person, safety, comfort, and punctuality. There is always room for improvement, and patients commented that they wanted to not be rushed during the visit, wanted to feel understood, wanted good outcomes, etc. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka tries hard to concentrate on you during your time at our Sitka chiropractic clinic.
CHIROPRACTIC IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE
As your Sitka chiropractor, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka works to deliver the ‘good’! And we take it one step further to enhance quality of life for our low back pain patients. The most recent series of questions to help evaluate patients for these outcomes is called PROMIS that encompasses function, pain interference, pain intensity, fatigue, sleep, depression, anxiety, satisfaction in social life, mental health, etc. The bottom line from all the collected data found that patients (1) improved significantly and felt they did, (2) improved significantly but didn’t think they did, (3) did not improve significantly but felt they did, (4) didn’t improve significantly or report feeling better. (4) We strive for the ideal #1 outcome described above, and we want you to tell us how you feel you are.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Coleman Cormier on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the relief of low back pain in a patient with a disc herniation implementing The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Sitka chiropractic appointment now. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka studies the data to best deliver quality of life-improving care for our Sitka low back pain patients.
