I'm always surprised when a patient timidly asks me if I can work on more than the spine. It seems they have this idea that Chiropractors are only back pain specialists. Nothing is farther from the truth!
Chiropractors provide mobility to all joints of the body and the benefits from Chiropractic care spread far beyond just pain relief. Chiropractic has frequently been shown to be more cost effective and have better satisfaction ratings than traditional allopathic care for joint pain. Chiropractic has also been shown to provide an increase on overall wellbeing and health by stimulating the immune system.
Check out this Pubmed abstract from JMPT:
First-Contact Care With a Medical vs Chiropractic Provider After Consultation With a Swiss Telemedicine Provider: Comparison of Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Care Costs in Spinal, Hip, and Shoulder Pain Patients.
Houweling TA1, Braga AV2, Hausheer T3, Vogelsang M4, Peterson C5, Humphreys BK6.
Author information
- 1Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University Hospital Balgrist, Forchstrasse 340, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: taco.houweling@balgrist.ch.
- 2CEO and Founder, bragamed GmbH, Baar, Switzerland.
- 3Clinician, Private Practice, Wädenswil, Switzerland.
- 4Clinician, Private Practice, Zürich, Switzerland.
- 5Professor, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University Hospital Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland.
- 6Professor and Head of Department, Department of Chiropractic Medicine, University Hospital Balgrist, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this study was to identify differences in outcomes, patient satisfaction, and related health care costs in spinal, hip, and shoulder pain patients who initiated care with medical doctors (MDs) vs those who initiated care with doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in Switzerland.
METHODS:
A retrospective double cohort design was used. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by first-contact care spinal, hip, and shoulder pain patients who, 4 months previously, contacted a Swiss telemedicine provider regarding advice about their complaint. Related health care costs were determined in a subsample of patients by reviewing the claims database of a Swiss insurance provider.
RESULTS:
The study sample included 403 patients who had seen MDs and 316 patients who had seen DCs as initial health care providers for their complaint. Differences in patient sociodemographic characteristics were found in terms of age, pain location, and mode of onset. Patients initially consulting MDs had significantly less reduction in their numerical pain rating score (difference of 0.32) and were significantly less likely to be satisfied with the care received (odds ratio = 1.79) and the outcome of care (odds ratio = 1.52). No significant differences were found for Patient's Global Impression of Change ratings. Mean costs per patient over 4 months were significantly lower in patients initially consulting DCs (difference of CHF 368; US $368).
CONCLUSION:
Spinal, hip, and shoulder pain patients had clinically similar pain relief, greater satisfaction levels, and lower overall cost if they initiated care with DCs, when compared with those who initiated care with MDs.