Clinicians in all settings can teach their patients to use relaxation, meditation, hypnosis, guided imagery, and other techniques that utilize the mind-body connection to achieve relief from chronic pain conditions. The key for providers is to build a good rapport with their patients, be aware of the power of suggestion and the language that they use when creating expectations in patients, and to practice what they preach when it comes to these techniques. Another technique that was shown to be very effective for chronic chronic low-back pain and chronic neck pain is chiropractic care.

One such study recruited 125 chiropractic clinics from six U.S. cities Because of the vigorous participation and dedication of these clinics, survey data from over 2,000 chiropractic patients with chronic low back and/or neck pain was collected. The data included three-month longitudinal surveys as well as chiropractic chart data for the majority of respondents.

Preliminary study findings were presented to expert appropriateness panels on manipulation and mobilization for chronic low back pain and chronic neck pain. Results were shared at numerous academic conferences, including the International Congress for Integrative Medicine and Health, the American Public Health Association, and multiple chiropractic professional conferences.

Data were collected from chiropractic patients using multistage systematic stratified sampling with 4 sampling levels: regions and states, sites (ie, metropolitan areas), providers and clinics, and patients. The sites and regions were San Diego, California; Tampa, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Seneca Falls and Upstate New York; Portland, Oregon; and Dallas, Texas. Data were collected from patients through an iPad-based prescreening questionnaire in the clinic and emailed links to full screening and baseline online questionnaires. The goal was to focus on patients with Chronic Low-Back Pain (CLBP) and Chronic Neck Pain (CNP) from each clinic.

6342 patients at 125 clinics completed the prescreening questionnaire, 3333 patients started the full screening questionnaire, and 2024 eligible patients completed the baseline questionnaire: 518 with CLBP only, 347 with CNP only, and 1159 with both. In general, most of this sample were highly-educated, non-Hispanic, white females with at least partial insurance coverage for chiropractic care who have been in pain and using chiropractic care for years. Over 90% reported high satisfaction with their care, few used narcotics, and avoiding surgery was the most important reason they chose chiropractic care.

Chiropractic care as part of the healthcare team can play an important role in the assessment and management of chronic pain related to MSK conditions. More and more studies are providing evidence of effective relief of chronic pain through chiropractic treatment.

For more info on how to take control of your health, and tackle chronic pain in a smart way, please reach out to:

Phone: (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web:   www.priclinic.com