Most Chiropractic Clinic 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 the larger population. Recent papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Most Chiropractic Clinic shares these with our Murfreesboro chiropractic patients who already experience many 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 seek care in the VHA system are excessively affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA in the last 12 months were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM available range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The main 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) Most Chiropractic Clinic is excited to see the addition 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
Most Chiropractic Clinic 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 rise but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations. (2) Most Chiropractic Clinic is honored to treat a bit larger percentage of Murfreesboro 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 enhanced 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 scored 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 recorded a statistically significant mean group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Most Chiropractic Clinic witnesses this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to benefit our patients.
CONTACT Most Chiropractic Clinic
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 with a herniated disc and severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Murfreesboro chiropractic appointment soon. 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 Murfreesboro healthcare grows.
