When back pain arises (and/or has turned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the concern of
which healthcare professional to consult. It’s
a valid question! Research states that the first healthcare professional
sets the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain spell.
A new study reported that first-provider chiropractic care was less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals.
Apple Country Chiropractic provides individualized treatment plans for Williamson
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 hasn’t
noted clearly what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One analysis of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults uncovered
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 requirements
like having a job for more 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, Apple Country Chiropractic, and our patients would like to know more definitively
what prompts chronic low back pain!
Even more desired is guidance on how to manage 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 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 stated
they endorsed these approaches when patients asked
for them. More female than male physicians reported
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as reasoning
for recommending such approaches. (2) An additional concerning
factor for female back pain sufferers is that they are consistently
noted as having higher levels of frailty than men. (3) Frailty is always a concern in our older patients. Apple Country Chiropractic is always ready to discuss the benefits
– recognized by patients and documented by
research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare
providers and spine pain patients.
CHIROPRACTIC RISES TO THE TOP
Another review of 3,799,593 low back pain patients surfaced this past month highlighting how influential
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, Williamson chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes 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 consulted
other healthcare professionals.
Schedule your Williamson chiropractic
appointment today. The question of which healthcare provider
to consult comes up, think of your
Williamson chiropractor!