Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legislated 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 larger
population. Recent papers feature chiropractic’s
benefits. Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre presents these to our
Toronto 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 confront
barriers to such incorporation 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 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 help other integrated US healthcare systems incorporate
the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit
their patients. (1) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre is excited to see the addition
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
Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre hopes to witness use of chiropractic services grow. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in chiropractic
care use – part of the VA’s efforts to expand
non-pharmacological treatment options available 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 utilization by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
is honored to treat a bit larger percentage of Toronto
healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients seek out and
continue to receive chiropractic care: they feel
a difference. A new study focused on how chiropractic care added
to usual medical care influenced health-related quality of
life scores. United States service members at the VHA who underwent
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 documented a statistically significant mean
group difference favoring the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre witnesses
this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to benefit
our patients.
CONTACT Yorkville Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
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 via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Set up your Toronto
chiropractic appointment soon. 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 Toronto healthcare grows.