Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legally called for inclusion 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. Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries presents these to our
Manchester chiropractic patients who already feel lots
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
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 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 assist other integrated US healthcare systems integrate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit
their patients. (1) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries is happy 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
Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries hopes to witness use of chiropractic services expand. 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 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 rise
but are low compared to utilization by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Manchester
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out and
persist in receiving chiropractic care: they feel
a difference. A new study focused on how chiropractic care enhanced usual medical care affected health-related quality of
life scores. United States service members at the VHA who experienced
combined chiropractic care with usual medical care rated 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 documented a statistically significant mean
group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries sees
this, too, and works with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT Manchester Chiropractic & Sports Injuries
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.
Make your Manchester
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 Manchester healthcare grows.