A 2017 article in Spine [1] cites a study where Ph.D. researchers looked at the results of chiropractic care from a twelve month treatment period. Some key takeaways from the article:
- Back pain (63.0%) and neck pain (30.2%) were the most prevalent health problems for chiropractic consultations. The majority of users reported chiropractic helping a great deal with their health problem and improving overall health or wellbeing.
- A substantial number of chiropractic users had received prescription (23.0%) and/or over-the-counter medications (35.0%) for the same health problem for which chiropractic was sought. A majority (64%) reported chiropractic care combined with medical treatment was helpful.
- A substantial proportion of U.S. adults utilized chiropractic services during the previous 12 months and reported associated positive outcomes for overall well-being and/or specific health problems for which conventional care was common.
- Chiropractic services are an important component of the healthcare provision for patients affected by musculoskeletal disorders, especially for back pain and neck pain, and for maintaining their overall wellbeing.
- There is a growing trend of chiropractic use among U.S. adults from 2002 to 2012, with 19 million adults in the US that have consulted a chiropractor within the previous 12 months.
Getting paid for chiropractic services has historically not always been easy, but in recent years insurers of all types have come to accept chiropractic as an effective and cost-efficient way to treat neck and back pain. For example chiropractic is covered by:
- Medicare and Medicaid for all adults in the U.S.;
- State of Washington’s Department of Labor &Industries for workers injured on the job;
- Health insurance plans with frequency of visits subject to plan difference;
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in auto cases;
- Third Party Claims (also known as liability claims).
In our practice, we have learned from our clients over time that chiropractic care has been a reliable and effective form of treatment for those recovering from musculoskeletal trauma.
[1] “The Prevalence, Patterns and Predictors of Chiropractic Use Among US Adults”; Adams et al., Spine, December 1, 2017; Vol. 42; No. 23; pp. 1810-1816.
