Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare
system is legislated and expanding.
How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could demonstrate
how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit the larger
population. New papers highlight chiropractic’s
benefits. Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn shares these with our
Ashburn 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 chronic pain
management. US healthcare systems face
barriers to such implementation 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 look for care in the VHA system are excessively
impacted by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who sought care at the VHA in the past year
were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM available
range from physical therapy, massage, chiropractic/spinal manipulation, psychotherapy,
educational classes, peer groups, and yoga/tai chi. The top 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 help
their patients. (1) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn is happy 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
Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn 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 rise
but are low compared to use by other US healthcare
chiropractic-using populations. (2) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
is honored to treat a bit larger proportion of Ashburn
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 enhanced 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 recorded a statistically significant mean
group difference in favor of the usual medical care plus
chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn witnesses
this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to help
our patients.
CONTACT Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn
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 who has a herniated disc and
severe low back pain via the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System
of Spinal Pain Management.
Make your Ashburn
chiropractic appointment soon. Including
chiropractic care benefits chronic pain patients whether they have low back,
neck, leg, arm or other spine-related pain condition. Chiropractic’s inclusion
in Ashburn healthcare grows.