For Patients with Low Back Pain, is Chiropractic More Effective than Medical Treatment?

There have been many studies over the years that have shown the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for back pain. Recently, a new study revealed more good news for Chiropractic: The study entitled "Tracking Low Back Problems in a Major Self-Insured Workforce: Toward Improvement in the Patient's Journey," showed the importance, efficacy and cost-saving benefits of turning to chiropractic early when it comes to low back pain. The study examined the total direct (medical, pharmaceutical) and indirect (lost productivity, absenteeism, workers compensation, short and long-term disability) cost outcomes associated with care for back problems reported by workers at a major self-insured heavy manufacturer in the U.S. The results were published in the June issue of The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

One of the things that are so impressive about this study is the size of population studied. The researchers tracked over 21,000 people between 2001 to 2009, individuals who reported back pain were identified as pursuing one of five different care approaches, from Information and Advice to Chiropractic to Complex Medical Management, based on their first six weeks of insurance claims. Those who sought Chiropractic were not only the least likely to turn to dangerous pharmaceuticals and costly surgery, the Chiropractic patients also averaged significantly lower total costs per episode. Early intervention was less costly over the long-run, as well. Those who received medical management actually had the highest costs.

The researchers concluded with this statement:

“Although employers and their occupational health personnel are not necessarily looking to test the accuracy or appropriateness of guidelines for Low Back Pain care per se, they are seeking to better manage the long-term total cost outcomes of their Low Back Pain employees/patients. Do guidelines hold much promise for advancing this objective? The bottom line answer from this study is an empirically based yes”.

What this means is that not only do we as individuals and families worry about the costs associated with treatment for back pain, so do employers and insurers. While it is true that low back pain is quite common and accounts for a large percentage of medical costs, it is also true that treating it doesn't have to cost a lot. Here at The Joint, we recognize the need for affordable and convenient chiropractic care to help with back and neck pain.

- Brad Hendricks, D.C.
  Chiropractic Physician

Drink Your Way to Better Health!

Water is the substance of life. The majority of people in Utah are dehydrated, and they don't even realize it. In fact, up to 80% of the people in Utah may be dehydrated. Before you assume that you are not in that group, because you don't feel thirsty, realize that thirst really has nothing to do with dehydration. You may also believe that you get enough water because you drink beverages that have water as an ingredient, such as coffee, tea, and sodas. Even though these beverages are made with water, when they are ingested, they actually cause us to lose water! You don't need other beverages - what you need is water.

Two-thirds of our bodies consist of water. Approximately 83% of our blood is water, 75% of our muscles are water, 22% of our bones are water, and 74% of our brains are water. Our brains even float around in water! With these percentages, it should be obvious as to why we require water to live in a high-altitude desert environment like Salt Lake City. The water in our bodies is lost every minute of every day - through sweat, tears, breathing and urination - and simply through our pores. You are losing water right now, at this very moment, and it needs to be replaced.

Dehydration affects more than just people outdoors in the sun, but the heat and aridity of Utah summers makes it an even more ubiquitous and serious problem for Salt Lake City residents. Some signs of dehydration include headaches, muscle aches and cramps, fibromyalgia and joint pain.  As we perform chiropractic adjustments, we encourage you to increase your water intake so that the cells of the body are able to get the nutrients they need to heal properly.  This happens best when you are well hydrated.  Oftentimes chiropractic adjustments for neck and back pain leads to detoxification and a flush of toxins that build up in our systems and therefore it is important to be drinking enough water to help your body eliminate those toxins.

By increasing your water intake to eight glasses per day, in about a week's time, you may notice that you have more energy, your mind is clearer, your skin is healthier, and your food digests easier, and you may even find that you lose weight!  A good rule of thumb is to also drink one glass of water for every cup of coffee or tea you have, as well as for every soda.  If you are exercising in the Utah heat it is important to drink even more water.  You can do your part in helping your body heal by getting regular chiropractic adjustments and by drinking more water.

~ Dr. Hendricks