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. New papers feature chiropractic’s
benefits. Manahawkin Chiropractic Center shares these with our
Manahawkin 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 incorporation 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
impacted by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA in the last 12 months
were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM offered
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 incorporate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit
their patients. (1) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center 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
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center 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 use by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
is honored to treat a bit larger proportion of Manahawkin
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients look for and
continue to receive chiropractic care: they feel
a difference. A new 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 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 offices everywhere.
Researchers found a statistically significant mean
group difference favoring the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center witnesses
this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to help
our patients.
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
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 with a herniated disc and
severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Manahawkin
chiropractic appointment soon. Offering
chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back,
neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion
in Manahawkin healthcare grows.