Minster Chiropractic Center 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 growing. 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 feature chiropractic’s benefits. Minster Chiropractic Center presents these to our Minster chiropractic patients who already feel lots of these benefits!

CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA

Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are promoted in consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. 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 promoting such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who seek care in the VHA system are disproportionately 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 offered range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy, educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The main 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) Minster Chiropractic Center 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

Minster Chiropractic Center hopes to see use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in chiropractic care use – part of the VA’s efforts to increase 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) Minster Chiropractic Center is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Minster healthcare seeking patients.  

CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE

There is a reason patients look for and persist in receiving chiropractic care: they notice 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 experienced combined chiropractic care with usual medical care rated their outcomes in three different questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or similar 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) Minster Chiropractic Center sees this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to help our patients.

CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she discusses 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.

Schedule your Minster chiropractic appointment today. 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 Minster healthcare grows.

 
Minster Chiropractic Center shares new reports of benefits of chiropractic inclusion in the Veteran’s Health System and how it could model inclusion in other healthcare systems beneficially. 
« View All Featured Articles
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."