When back pain arises (and/or has turned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the concern of
which healthcare provider to consult. It is
a valid question! Research reports that the first healthcare provider
establishes the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain bout.
A new study shared 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
described what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One review of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults uncovered
an extensive list of issues 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 longer than 10 years that required
bending/lifting, etc.) and factors 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 conclusively
what prompts chronic low back pain!
Even more desired 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 participants
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 reported
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as reasoning
for suggesting such approaches. (2) An additional troubling
factor for female back pain patients is that they are consistently
seen as having higher levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always a concern in our older patients. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is always prepared to discuss the benefits
– recognized 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 turned
up this past month emphasizing 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 higher when consulting
certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary
care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Seeing
which provider first resulted in the least expense without any delay in diagnosis
or serious illness? The chiropractor! With regards 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 got
relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management after she had seen
other healthcare providers.
Make your Sitka chiropractic
appointment soon. The question of which healthcare professional
to consult arises, remember your
Sitka chiropractor!