Pure Chiropractic Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond
Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legally called for inclusion and expanding. How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit a wider population. Recent papers highlight chiropractic’s benefits. Pure Chiropractic shares these with our Concord, NC 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 chronic pain management. US healthcare systems encounter barriers to such implementation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies promoting such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who look for care in the VHA system are excessively affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to the VHA for care in the last 12 months were more likely to get NPM. Types of NPM available range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The top 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) Pure Chiropractic is excited to see the inclusion of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
HIGHER USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW
Pure Chiropractic hopes to witness use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options open 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 increase but are low compared to use by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations. (2) Pure Chiropractic is honored to care for a bit larger proportion of Concord, NC healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out and continue to receive chiropractic care: they notice 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 a variety of 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 favoring the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Pure Chiropractic sees this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to help our patients.
CONTACT Pure Chiropractic
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 who has a herniated disc and severe low back pain via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Concord, NC chiropractic appointment today. 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 Concord, NC healthcare grows.
