Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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 show how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a larger population. New papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa presents these to our West Des Moines chiropractic patients who already feel lots of these benefits!

CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA

Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are promoted in consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems encounter barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies promoting such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who look for care in the VHA system are disproportionately impacted by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to the VHA for care in the last 12 months were more likely to get NPM. Types of NPM available 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 integrate the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit their patients. (1) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is happy to see the inclusion of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.

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

Executive Chiropractic of Iowa hopes to witness use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise in chiropractic care use – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options open 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of West Des Moines healthcare seeking patients.  

CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE

There is a reason patients seek out and continue to receive chiropractic care: they feel a difference. A recent study focused on how chiropractic care added to usual medical care influenced health-related quality of life scores. United States service members at the VHA who underwent combined chiropractic care with usual medical care rated their outcomes in a variety of questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or comparable tests used daily in chiropractic practices everywhere. Researchers found a statistically significant mean group difference favoring the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa witnesses this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit our patients.

CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa

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

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

 
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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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