Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic Shares Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain in VHA and Beyond
Chiropractic care in the Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is legally called for inclusion and growing. How chiropractic benefits the VA system and its patrons, the veterans, could show how chiropractic’s inclusion in more healthcare systems may benefit the larger population. New papers feature chiropractic’s benefits. Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic shares these with our Montreal 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 confront barriers to such incorporation of such NPM except in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) which is a more integrated healthcare system with policies encouraging such NPM. In surveys, the military veteran-patients who look for care in the VHA system are disproportionately affected by chronic pain. Chronic pain-afflicted veterans who went to the VHA for care in the past year were more likely to receive NPM. Types of NPM offered 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 assist other integrated US healthcare systems incorporate the recommended non-pharmacological treatment modalities to help their patients. (1) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic is excited to see the inclusion 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
Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic hopes to see use of chiropractic services expand. From 2005 to 2016 there was a rise in use of chiropractic care – part of the VA’s efforts to expand non-pharmacological treatment options open 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) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic is honored to care for a bit larger proportion of Montreal healthcare seeking patients.
CHIROPRACTIC’S EFFECT ON QUALITY OF LIFE
There is a reason patients look for and persist in receiving chiropractic care: they notice 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 experienced combined chiropractic care with usual medical care scored their outcomes in a variety of questionnaires: PROMIS-29, Roland Morris, and Global Improvement visual analog scale, the same or similar tests used daily in chiropractic offices everywhere. Researchers documented a statistically significant mean group difference favoring the usual medical care plus chiropractic care group versus usual medical care alone. (3) Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic sees this, too, and collaborates with medical colleagues to benefit our patients.
CONTACT Dr. Hoang's Chiropractic Clinic
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 who has a herniated disc and severe low back pain with the Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction System of Spinal Pain Management.
Schedule your Montreal chiropractic appointment today. 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 Montreal healthcare grows.
