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 is
a valid question! Research states that the first healthcare provider
establishes the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain episode.
A new study stated that first-provider chiropractic care was less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa provides individualized treatment plans for West Des Moines
back pain relief and prevention.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: Contributing and Preventing Factors
Even though chronic low back
pain is so common in older adults, research just hasn’t
defined what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One analysis of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults exposed
an extensive list of issues that may contribute (from being
female, obese, anxious, depressed, having fallen,
lifestyle issues like smoking, having weak abdominal muscles, occupational issues
like having a job for longer than 10 years that necessitated
bending/lifting, etc.) and factors that may prevent chronic low
back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These
researchers, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, and our patients would like to know more definitively
what induces chronic low back pain!
Even more wanted is direction on how to handle
it.
REFERRALS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE
A survey of US office-based physicians tackled how referrals
affected the care of back pain. The participants
were queried as to their referrals for particular
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 asked
for them. More female than male physicians related
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as justification
for suggesting such approaches. (2) An additional concerning
factor for female back pain sufferers is that they are consistently
noted as having greater levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always of concern in our older patients. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is always prepared to share the benefits
– recognized by patients and documented by
research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare
physicians and spine pain patients.
CHIROPRACTIC RISES TO THE TOP
Another review of 3,799,593 low back pain patients surfaced 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 greater when consulting
certain providers first: orthopedist ($9434), acupuncturist ($9205), primary
care physician ($5660), and chiropractor ($5093). (4) Seeing
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, West Des Moines chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the good
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 consulted
other healthcare professionals.
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic
appointment now. The question of which healthcare provider
to consult comes up, remember your
West Des Moines chiropractor!