Hollstrom & Associates Inc Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond
Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legislated and growing. How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could demonstrate how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit the wider population. New papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Hollstrom & Associates Inc shares these with our Largo chiropractic patients who already feel many of these benefits!
CHRONIC PAIN HELP IN VHA
Non-pharmacological treatment modalities (NPM) are endorsed via consensus guideline recommendations for care of chronic pain. US healthcare systems face barriers to such incorporation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies promoting such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who seek care in the VHA system are excessively affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA in the past year 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 integrate the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to benefit their patients. (1) Hollstrom & Associates Inc is excited to see the addition of chiropractic treatment in the VHA to help the many musculoskeletal and chronic pain patients it serves.
MORE USE OF CHIROPRACTIC NPM IN VHA BUT USE IS STILL LOW
Hollstrom & Associates Inc hopes to witness use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was an increase in use of chiropractic care – 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 use by other US healthcare chiropractic-using populations. (2) Hollstrom & Associates Inc is honored to treat a bit larger percentage of Largo healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients look for and continue to receive chiropractic care: they feel a difference. A recent 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 rated their outcomes in three different questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or comparable tests used daily in chiropractic offices everywhere. Researchers found a statistically significant mean group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Hollstrom & Associates Inc witnesses this, too, and works with medical colleagues to help our patients.
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Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Katrina Weiland on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes 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.
Make your Largo chiropractic appointment today. 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 Largo healthcare grows.
