Monday, March 2, 2020

U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

The National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey showed that spinal/ osteopathic manipulation was the was the most common recommended complementary health approach by family and other primary physicians.
Would you be surprised to know that I have received patient referrals from well over 100 medical physicians of many specialities?
U.S. Physician Recommendations to Their Patients About the Use of Complementary Health Approaches

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

The Veteran's Administration has operated a chiropractic residency program at five VA hospitals since 2016. They are now expanding the program to five more hospitals. This will give these DC's skills to practice in hospital and other medical settings.
Do you see benefit in chiropractors treating patients in the hospital?
https://www.dynamicchiropractic.com/mpacms/dc/article.php…Expanding the VA Chiropractic Residency

Thursday, January 9, 2020

More Payers Backing Chiropractic Care in 2020

This article from a website for the managed care industry states that many insurance plans including the military plan Tricare will be increasing coverage for chiropractic care after many studies now showing it reduces costs, reduces surgeries, and reduces opioid prescriptions.
Are you so surprised that this has taken so long?
Chiropractic care is becoming a method more recognized as a way to better treat patients and avoid pharmacological pain management methods.

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

This is another in what is now a long list of studies showing cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. It looked at the Missouri Medicaid system and estimated adding chiropractic care would annually save the state between $14 and $49 million dollars by providing better outcomes for reduced costs, decrease utilization of surgery, and reduced use and abuse of opioids.
Why do you think some states including Illinois do not cover chiropractic care in their Medicaid programs?
Cost-Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctors of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Appraisal of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic Under Missouri Medicaid.

Friday, December 27, 2019

MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic, adolescent, elite tennis players.

I ran across this study on asymptomatic elite tennis players with an average age of 17 years old. The study scanned 33 teenagers and only 5 had normal scans! The scans revealed multiple abnormalities in the rest including disc degeneration, joint arthritis, disc bulges, and stress fractures.
Partly due to studies like this and current imaging guidelines, I now order much less imaging than in the past. Unfortunately many doctors rely too heavily on imaging studies. MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic, adolescent, elite tennis players.

Monday, December 16, 2019

Back pain one of leading causes of disability

It is easy for some who have never had a severe or chronic back disorder to think it is not a serious problem, maybe because back disorders do not kill anyone...well at least not directly. The reality is that low back and neck disorders are the 2nd most common cause of disability in the developed countries after ischemic heart disease, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study published in the Lancet.
Does this surprise anyone?How Back Pain Took Over the WorldB

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

NSAIDs and Heart Attack Risk

A study from the Sept issue of Arthritis and Rheumatology that looked at 7,742 people with osteoarthritis found that those that took NSAID drugs (anti-inflammatory drugs such ibuprofen and aspirin) were at 41 percent increased risk for suffering heart attacks, heart failure and strokes, compared to arthritis patients who did not take NSAIDs. Although many other studies have linked NSAIDs to heart attacks, this was the first to link it to people with osteoarthritis taking NSAID's.
Do you see that this is another reason to try chiropractic or other manual treatments before resorting to drugs?NSAIDs and Heart Attack Risk