See Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka First for Chronic Low Back Pain
When back pain arises (and/or has turned into chronic low back pain) so too does the matter of which healthcare provider to see. It’s a valid question! Research maintains that the first healthcare professional establishes the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain bout. A new study stated that first-provider chiropractic care was less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka provides individualized treatment plans for Sitka back pain relief and prevention.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: Contributing and Preventing Factors
Despite the fact that chronic low back pain is notably common in older adults, research just has not noted clearly what contributes to it or to its prevention. One analysis of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults exposed an extensive list of factors that may contribute (from being female, obese, anxious, depressed, having had falls in the past, lifestyle issues like smoking, having weak abdominal muscles, occupational issues like having a job for more than 10 years that required bending/lifting, etc.) and issues that may prevent chronic low back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These researchers, Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka, and our patients would like to know more definitively what affects chronic low back pain! Even more wanted is direction on what to do about it.
REFERRALS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
A survey of US office-based physicians tackled how referrals affected the care of back pain. The participating physicians were questioned as to their referrals for certain complementary health approaches like herbs/non-vitamin supplements, chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, acupuncture and mind-body therapies (meditation, guided imagery, progressive relaxation). 60% of the physicians said they advocated these approaches when patients requested them. More female than male physicians answered using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as rationale for suggesting such approaches. (2) An additional troubling factor for female back pain patients is that they are consistently noted as having higher levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always of concern in our older patients. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is always ready to discuss the benefits – perceived by patients and verified by research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare professionals and spine pain patients.
CHIROPRACTIC RISES TO THE TOP
Another review of 3,799,593 low back pain patients appeared this past month highlighting how important the first healthcare provider was in their study on cost and outcome for back pain. Healthcare utilization (imaging, prescriptions, tests, visits, etc.), opioid prescribing, and cost were greater when consulting certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Consulting which provider first was the least expensive without any detrimental effect on diagnosis or serious illness? The chiropractor! When it comes to back pain, neck pain and spine-related pain, Sitka chiropractic care makes sense.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the positive outcome for a lumbar spinal stenosis low back pain sufferer who found relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management after she had seen other healthcare professionals.
Make your Sitka chiropractic appointment now. The question of which healthcare provider to see comes up, think of your Sitka chiropractor!
