Research Demonstrates Effectiveness and Popularity of Chiropractic Care

[Guest guest]

Research Demonstrates Effectiveness and Popularity of Chiropractic

Care

by The American Chiropractic Association

WASHINGTON--A critical mass of recent surveys and studies document

the fact that the public, and conventional health care providers and

payers, have come to recognize that traditional medicine can't

answer all of consumers' health care needs. In particular, more

people are turning to chiropractic services.

A study published in the July 1, 1998 issue of the ls of

Internal Medicine shows that chiropractic treatment is appropriate

for low-back pain in a considerable number of cases. This study by

the Rand Corporation found that 46 percent of a sample of low-back

pain patients received appropriate care from doctors of

chiropractic - an appropriateness rating similar to that of common

medical procedures.

Poll results released in January 1998 by Landmark Healthcare, Inc.,

showed that one in every five adults ages 55 to 64 has used

chiropractic care.

A December 1997 report from the Federal Agency for Health Policy and

Research (AHCPR) notes that the chiropractic profession is now the

third largest group of doctoral-level providers in the United States

(after medical doctors and dentists).

That same AHCPR report shows that fully 80 percent of American

workers in conventional insurance plans, preferred providers

organizations (PPOs), and point-of-service plans now have coverage

that pays at least part of the cost of chiropractic care.

As the recent AHCPR report states, " In the areas of training,

practice and research, chiropractic has emerged from the periphery

of the health care system and is playing an increasingly important

role in discussions of health care policy. " And, notes a March 1998

article in Business and Health magazine, " Many companies say

chiropractic coverage has lowered their medical and workers' comp

costs, while raising overall health and productivity. 'It's one of

the best benefits possible from a quality, quantity and pricing

perspective,' says McGregor, president of [a firm that is a

third-party administrator]. " The article also cites an Oregon study,

which found that median work time lost for employees with back

injuries who used chiropractic care was only 9 days as compared with

34.5 days for workers who used medical care.

Quick relief of symptoms and sustained effectiveness have long

attracted consumers to chiropractic care. In fact, in just one year -

- 1997 -- more than 20 million adults used chiropractic services.

The 1994 AHCPR guidelines for low-back pain concluded that spinal

manipulation, chiropractic's primary treatment technique, is one of

only three treatments whose effectiveness is substantiated by

rigorous research. According to a 1992 RAND Corp. study, patients

see a chiropractor primarily for low back pain and neck pain, though

many seek chiropractic care for mid-back pain, extremity problems,

headaches and other symptoms as well.

Because back pain is so pervasive in our society, a recent study

published in the British Medical Journal pointing out that back pain

doesn't go away that easily confirmed what chiropractors have always

known. Only 25 percent of low back pain sufferers had fully

recovered 12 months after their first visit to a general

practitioner, the study said. This low number is in conflict with

the commonly-held notion that low back pain episodes go away by

themselves after a month. " This hardly comes as a surprise to low

back pain sufferers who have been told by their medical doctors not

to worry - the pain will go away on its own, " said Dr.

Pedigo, president of the American Chiropractic Association. " In many

cases, further treatment is necessary. "

Doctors of chiropractic have long understood the cyclic nature of

low back pain, and perhaps this is one of the reasons they

consistently rate higher than MDs in patient satisfaction in this

area. In a recent Gallup poll, 90 percent of all people who visited

a chiropractor agreed that their care was effective.

Successful outcomes in both effectiveness and patient satisfaction,

have paved the way for chiropractors to enter the mainstream of

health care services. Some have even begun to collaborate with

medical doctors in integrated health care practices. As reported in

the May/June 1998 issue of Health magazine, the prestigious Texas

Back Institute (TBI) at one time included only surgeons and other

M.D.s. Then, about ten years ago, when TBI's medical doctors

discovered chiropractic's success with lower back pain, they hired

their first chiropractor. Now, according to one administrator quoted

in the article, about 50 percent of the Institute's patients see a

chiropractor first when beginning their treatment. Also, the

Washington Post recently reported on the success of the 5-year-old

company, American WholeHealth, whose clinics incorporate a consumer-

driven mix of traditional medical and alternative health care

including chiropractic.

Due to years of criticism -- and even an illegal boycott by the

American Medical Association -- chiropractic training was sometimes

called into question. However, the fact remains, chiropractors must

complete a minimum of 6 and, on average, 7 years of college and post-

graduate study to earn their degrees. Their education includes at

least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience,

and as much -- and sometimes more than -- course work in anatomy and

physiology as most medical doctors. After they receive their degrees

from one of the nation's 17 accredited chiropractic colleges, they

have to pass rigorous exams and be licensed by the state before they

can open a practice. The practice of chiropractic is licensed in all

50 states, and in 1994 there were approximately 50,000 chiropractors

licensed in the United States. This number is expected to double by

the year 2010, according to the 1997 AHCPR report.

" These recent surveys and reports finally vindicate the chiropractic

profession after years of enduring doubt, questions and criticism

about our training and practices, " said Dr. Pedigo. " What the health

care and medical communities are just beginning to accept is what

our patients have known all along -- that our treatment is safe,

effective and highly successful at improving their quality of life. "