Vancouver Disc Centers 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 the wider population. New papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Vancouver Disc Centers shares these with our Vancouver 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 confront 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 look for 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 main 3 used by chronic pain veterans were chiropractic care, educational class, or psychotherapy. The VHA policies can assist other integrated US healthcare systems add the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit their patients. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers is excited to see the inclusion of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to care for the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
MORE USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW
Vancouver Disc Centers hopes to see use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise 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) Vancouver Disc Centers is honored to care for a bit larger percentage of Vancouver 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 scored 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) Vancouver Disc Centers sees this, too, and works with medical colleagues to help our patients.
CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers
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 who has a herniated disc and severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Vancouver chiropractic appointment now. 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 Vancouver healthcare grows.
