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Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond

Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legislated and growing. How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could demonstrate how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a larger population. New papers highlight chiropractic’s benefits. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka presents these to our Sitka chiropractic patients who already feel lots of these benefits!

CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA

Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are endorsed via consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems face barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies encouraging such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who look for care in the VHA system are disproportionately affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to the VHA for care in the past year were more likely to get NPM. Types of NPM offered range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The top 3 used by chronic pain veterans were chiropractic care, educational class, or psychotherapy. The VHA policies can help other integrated US healthcare systems add the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help their patients. (1) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is excited to see the inclusion of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.

HIGHER USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW

Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka hopes to witness use of chiropractic services grow. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options available to veterans - in the VA either at on-site VA facilities (1.27% to 1.48%) or from VA-purchased community care providers (0.29% to 1.76%). These numbers did increase but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations.  (2) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is honored to treat a bit larger proportion of Sitka healthcare seeking patients.  

CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE

There is a reason patients look for and persist in receiving chiropractic care: they notice a difference. A new study focused on how chiropractic care enhanced usual medical care influenced health-related quality of life scores. United States service members at the VHA who experienced combined chiropractic care with usual medical care rated their outcomes in three different questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or comparable tests used daily in chiropractic practices everywhere. Researchers documented a statistically significant mean group difference favoring the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka sees this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit our patients.

CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes treatment of a US Air Force Veteran who has a herniated disc and severe low back pain via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.

Schedule your Sitka chiropractic appointment today. Offering chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back, neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion in Sitka healthcare grows.

 
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka shares new reports of benefits of chiropractic inclusion in the Veteran’s Health System and how it could model inclusion in other healthcare systems beneficially. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."