chiropractic care

Chiropractic Care Study Reveals Surprising Results

by
chiropractic care

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common and costly problems in the world today [1]. While it is not the sole reason people choose to seek Chiropractic care, it is the most common [2, 3]. Most Chiropractors recommend maintenance care (MC) after the resolution of a patient’s primary complaint [4] and is generally offered as a secondary or tertiary prevention strategy.

Until recently, empirical evidence investigating the effectiveness of MC was scarce. The alternative to MC is to discontinue care and instruct the patient to schedule a new visit when they experience a new episode of pain or when the patient perceives a need (symptom- guided treatment). In other words: one is controlled by the doctor (maintenance care), the other is controlled by the patient (symptom-guided treatment). So, which is more appropriate? Let’s look at the evidence!

This article examines the outcomes of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial that investigated the effectiveness of MC for patients with recurrent or persistent low back pain. The study compared MC to symptom-guided treatment with regard to the total number of days with bothersome LBP over 52 weeks, the prevalence of days with pain per week over time, and the total number of treatments.

Are Chiropractors Doctors?

Chiropractic Care Study Results

Treatments mainly consisted of spinal adjustments followed by information and/or advice. The total number of days with bothersome LBP over 52 weeks was significantly less in the maintenance care group. Patients who received MC had approximately 13 fewer days of bothersome LBP over 12 months compared to patients who only sought care when a new episode of pain occurs. The MC group also had a FASTER reduction in days with bothersome LBP and reached a lower steady state earlier.

While maintenance care resulted in only a slightly higher number of visits to the Chiropractor, it was MORE effective than symptom-guided treatment in reducing the total number of days in a year with bothersome low back pain.

Although these results may be surprising to you, they don’t surprise clinicians that offer maintenance care. It’s a valuable step towards validating the prevention strategy used by many Chiropractors around the world for the benefit of their patients who suffer from persistent or recurrent low back pain.

Click here to find a chiropractor near you!

chiropractic benefits

Further Reading

People who enjoyed this article also viewed:

References

1. Hoy D, March L, Brooks P, Blyth F, Woolf A, Bain C, et al. The global burden of low back pain: estimates from the Global Burden of Disease 2010 study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014; 73(6):968–74. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-204428 PMID: 24665116

2. Leboeuf-Yde C, Hennius B, Rudberg E, Leufvenmark P, Thunman M. Chiropractic in Sweden: a short descriptionof patients and treatment. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1997; 20(8):507–10. PMID:9345678

3. Sorensen LP, Stochkendahl MJ, Hartvigsen J, Nilsson NG. Chiropractic Patients in Denmark 2002: An Expanded Description and Comparison With 1999 Survey. J Manip Physiol Ther. 2006; 29(6):419–24.

4. Axen I, Jensen IB, Eklund A, Halasz L, Jorgensen K, Lange F, et al. The Nordic Maintenance Care Pro- gram: when do chiropractors recommend secondary and tertiary preventive care for low back pain? Chiropr Osteopat. 2009; 17:1. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1340-17-1 PMID: 19161611

Are Chiropractors Doctors?

by
Are Chiropractors Doctors

Many people often ask the question “are chiropractors doctors?”. Well, they are healthcare practitioners in a regulated profession, and so, the common assumption is that they are doctors. However many people wonder what the difference is between chiropractors and medical doctors.

Let’s look at what chiropractor’s do and what the practice of chiropractic includes. Therefore, you can be better prepared and more confident about your next visit to see a chiropractor!

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a licensed healthcare profession that focuses on the body’s natural ability to heal. Chiropractic care most commonly centers on manual therapy. More specifically the chiropractic adjustment, with an emphasis on the health of the spine and nervous system. Physical exercises and lifestyle advice are also frequently included as part of a patients care.

What Is A Doctor Of Chiropractic?

A chiropractor is a health professional that provides care for disorders related to;

But, they aren’t medical doctors. Therefore do not prescribe medication. However, they undergo extensive training and are highly qualified in their field, practicing as doctors of chiropractic.

Click here to read, If I go to the Chiropractor, do I have to go forever?

doctor of chiropractic

Education For Doctors Of Chiropractic

Chiropractic education is very similar to that of medicine. However, compared to their medical counterparts, chiropractors spend more hours studying;

  • Anatomy
  • Neurology
  • Orthopedics
  • Radiology
  • Nutrition

A chiropractor usually attains their undergraduate degree with a strong emphasis on sciences such as;

  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Chemistry

All before attending a 4-year chiropractic graduate course. All this totaling close to 4,700 instructional hours.

what is chiropractic

What Does A Doctor Of Chiropractic Do?

Similar to medical doctors, chiropractors will firstly have a consultation with their patient. Next, they will perform a patient history and examination. This often includes specialized tests, before providing a report of findings.

After providing a diagnosis, they will recommend a management plan. Once a patient begins care, their progress will be closely monitored to maintain optimal health. Chiropractors most commonly provide care for health conditions that involve the neuromusculoskeletal system.

Standard chiropractic care includes joint manipulation. Also referred to as chiropractic adjustments performed by the hand through a combination of quick and gentle thrusts. The main objective of the chiropractic adjustment is to improve the alignment and functions of spinal joints. Reducing stress on the nervous system. Many chiropractors will provide joint manipulation to the extremities as well.

Click here to read, Cracking Open The Biggest Myths About Chiropractic.

what is chiropractic

How Chiropractic Can Help

Chiropractor’s care can help solve several health problems. It can help resolve issues and conditions relating to:

  • The nervous system
  • Bones, ligaments, and cartilage
  • Tendons and muscles

Frequent problems that can resolve under chiropractic care are;

  • Pelvic pain
  • Lower back pain
  • Leg and hip pain
  • Neck pain
  • Arm and shoulder pain
  • Headaches
  • Numbness and tingling

Click here to read, Chiropractic Heals Nothing!

So, Are Chiropractors Doctors?

On the whole, chiropractors are holistic healthcare practitioners. Providing care to help their patients achieve optimal overall health. They are highly skilled and will offer excellent solutions to a number of healthcare issues. Click here to find a chiropractor near you.

For further reading click here to read, Antioxidants – Can They Be Boosted With Chiropractic Care and What The Keto Diet And Chiropractic Have In Common .

Vision and Health: Can’t have one without the other

by
Vision for Health

I had worked at a homeless shelter for 2 years giving free chiropractic care to the down and out in Hamilton. The man in front of me had come in for back pain. I always asked these men the same question at their intake exam:

“What is the vision of what you want to do with your life?” His response tore my heart: “I have failed at everything I have ever tried and I’m not even sure if I want to live anymore.”

As you can imagine if people have LOW or NO vision, like the above example, their investment of time and money into health disciplines like nutrition, exercise, spinal health and relationships will probably be VERY LOW to NON-EXISTENT. Consequently, their health will be very poor, as it was with the above man. The BEST way to get healthy is to NEED good health because of your vision for amazing health. 

If we NEED our bodies to be healthy in order to accomplish our BIG dreams, then we MUST take care of them. 

Vision is EVERYTHING. As a chiropractor for 20 years now, I realize that the MOST important piece of information we can glean from the New Patient exam is precisely what I asked that man: “What is your vision for your life?”  We then ask: “What do you miss MOST due to your poor health right now?”.  Finally we ask, “If this condition was left alone for 5 years and did not improve how would that affect your life?”

EVERYONE has a vision and desire for CRISIS care. This puts us in a place of “no choice” meaning that we MUST fix the problem, no matter how long it takes or how much it costs. Crisis care may be the 30 year old Dad who can’t work as a mechanic due to sciatica. His wife and kids will starve if he can’t get his spine fixed. No choice. It may be the 65 year old widowed grandma who has hip pain and can’t play golf. Her Tuesday and Thursday night golf league is what she lives for and she can’t give it up. No choice. These people will ALWAYS proceed with their corrective care plan. 

The BIG SOLID YELLOW differentiating line is this: once the crisis is gone, do people have a vision for ongoing wellness care? This may mean weekly or bi-weekly adjustments for life. The answer to this question depends on their belief. Will on-going wellness chiropractic in some REAL way help me achieve my dream of being healthy until I’m 90? If they can’t see how chiropractic may help do that then they will NOT continue into wellness care. This same decision making process will determine whether they work out for life and eat healthy food for life.   

The first pre-requisite here is that you have a VISION for good health which means a compelling REASON as to why you need good health. This varies for everyone but could be grandkids, travel, ministry work, sports and golf, taking care of sick family etc.   

The second pre-requisite is understanding how a healthy spine will get you there. A spine that has good mobility and structure IS that key to amazing health in older years. A spine that is immobile, mis-aligned, arthritic and decaying will rob people of their ability to fulfill their dreams especially in later years.

Recently at my clinic my patient, a 60 year old lady, had her adjustment and then sat on the table and announced that she got an award from her Gym. She had hit the 1800 mark.  She had done 1800 workouts over a 13 year period of time. WOW!! It just so happens that she finished 10 years of wellness care with me; close to 300 adjustments. She is one of the healthiest and most joyful people I know. She always comes in with a smile and is praising our team and her husband and her kids and friends. She has a VISION for wellness and believes that chiropractic is a large part of the HOW to be optimally healthy. 

Ultimately as humans we have two choices when a health challenge robs our ability to do what we love to do. The first choice is to LOWER our vision and NOT fix the health issue.  An example would be the 70 year old who decides to quit golf because it causes him extreme back pain every time he plays.

The second choice is to MAINTAIN our vision and dream and to FIX the health issue. This would be the 70 year old man who follows through on a corrective care plan and then ongoing wellness care for 20 years and continues to play golf until he is 90!

The most important question for the patient is: “What vision do you believe will allow you to have the most abundant and healthy life possible?” Life-time wellness chiropractic care OR symptom-based crisis-relief care? If you believe life-time wellness care is best for you then find that chiropractor that also believes this.

Without a compelling vision for your life, you may not need good health. If you lose your health you lose everything. If you lose your vision you also lose everything. They both go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other. 

_________________________________

Guest Blog by Dr. Mark del Cantero

Dr. Mark del CanteroDr. Mark Del Cantero has been a structural corrective chiropractor for 20 years now in Ancaster, Ontario.  He has helped thousands of people to not only restore their health but to maintain it and achieve high levels of health and vitality.  He not only takes an interest in spinal health but also in nutrition, exercise and stress management.  

He graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College as a Chiropractor in 1996 with clinical honours and has since taken all of the core courses in Chiropractic Biophysics Technique.  He completed his  undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Toronto in 1990.

He has been a speaker at various venues including Warrior Coaching and dozens of groups locally in Hamilton.  

He lives with his wife and three children in Ancaster, Ontario.  

You can find Dr. Mark at:

Website: http://www.cedarspringschiro.com/

Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarspringschiro

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chirocedar

Instagram @cedarspringschiro