Chiropractic: A low-cost solution to high-cost healthcare

Numerous studies have shown that services delivered by doctors of chiropractic (DC) are cost effective and safe. Examine the research, and decide for yourself if these services offer tremendous potential in meeting today’s healthcare challenges. The following is a list of excerpts from several studies:

• Annals of Internal Medicine published a study in 2012 that found patients with acute and subacute neck pain found spinal manipulation therapy provided by DCs more effective than medication in both the short and long term.

• A 2010 study evaluating data from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee found that risk-adjusted costs for low back pain episodes of care initiated with a DC were 20 percent less costly than episodes initiated through a medical doctor.

• A University of British Columbia study in 2010 found that guidelines-based care which included spinal manipulation provided by a DC was significantly more effective than “usual care” provided by medical physicians for patients with lower back pain of less than 16 weeks duration.

• A 2009 Milstein and Choudhry report stated “…when considering effectiveness and cost together, chiropractic physician care for low back and neck pain is highly cost effective, and represents a good value in comparison to medical physician care.”

• A study published in 2004 showed that patients enrolled in an HMO network using DC’s as primary care physicians experienced significantly fewer hospital visits, spent less time in a hospital for care, underwent fewer surgeries and used far fewer pharmaceuticals than other HMO patients who received traditional medical care. These findings were confirmed in a 2007 follow up study.

• British Medical Journal published a study in 2004 that concluded that spinal manipulation would be “a cost effective addition to ‘best care’ for back pain in general practice.”

• According to a 2004 article in the Spine Journal, spinal manipulative treatment for both chronic and acute lower back pain was more effective in providing short-term relief than many other types of care, including prescription drugs, physical therapy and home exercise.

Are you utilizing chiropractic for your health challenges?

For more information, contact Wendy at haydenhealth@gmail.com.