When back pain arises (and/or has turned
into chronic low back pain) so too does the question of
which healthcare professional to consult. It’s
a valid question! Research states that the first healthcare provider
sets the course for care, cost, and outcome of the back pain flare-up.
A new study shared that first-provider chiropractic care was less expensive than care by other first-provider healthcare professionals.
Spine & Sports Rehab Center provides individualized treatment plans for Baton Rouge
back pain relief and prevention.
CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN: Contributing and Preventing Factors
Despite the fact that chronic low back
pain is so common in older adults, research just has not
described what contributes to it or to its
prevention. One analysis of 4 databases of 31,080 older adults exposed
an extensive list of factors that may contribute (from being
female, obese, anxious, depressed, having fallen,
lifestyle issues like smoking, having weak abdominal muscles, occupational issues
like having a job for more than 10 years that necessitated
bending/lifting, etc.) and issues that may prevent chronic low
back pain (intermediate level of leisure-time physical activity). (1) These
researchers, Spine & Sports Rehab Center, and our patients would like to know more definitively
what influences 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 participating physicians
were questioned as to their referrals for certain
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 asked
for them. More female than male physicians answered
using evidence in peer-reviewed journals as justification
for suggesting 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. Spine & Sports Rehab Center is always prepared to discuss the benefits
– recognized by patients and documented by
research – of chiropractic and more specifically, Cox® Technic, with interested healthcare
physicians 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 greater when seeing
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, Baton Rouge chiropractic care
makes sense.
CONTACT Spine & Sports Rehab Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Keith Bartley on The Back Doctors Podcast with
Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the good
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 providers.
Make your Baton Rouge chiropractic
appointment now. The question of which healthcare provider
to see arises, think of your
Baton Rouge chiropractor!