When back pain comes up (and/or has turned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the matter of
which healthcare professional 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 flare-up.
A new study stated that first-provider chiropractic care endedup
being less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals.
Cross Chiropractic Center provides individualized treatment plans for Sandy Springs
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 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, Cross Chiropractic Center, and our patients would like to know more definitively
what induces chronic low back pain!
Even more desired is guidance 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 participating physicians
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 reported
they advocated these approaches when patients requested them. More female than male physicians reported
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as rationale
for suggesting such approaches. (2) An additional troubling
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. Cross Chiropractic Center is always prepared to share the benefits
– perceived by patients and documented 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 appeared 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) Consulting
which provider first was the least expensive without any detrimental effect on diagnosis
or serious illness? The chiropractor! With regards to
back pain, neck pain and spine-related pain, Sandy Springs chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic Center
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 found
relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management after she had consulted
other healthcare professionals.
Schedule your Sandy Springs chiropractic
appointment now. The question of which healthcare provider
to consult comes up, remember your
Sandy Springs chiropractor!