WHITE PAPER | 2021


WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE?


Chiropractic care offers safe, effective and non-invasive management of back and neck pain, but chiropractic is much more than an effective modality to address spine pain. It’s a health-care profession that focuses on the structure and function of the locomotor system and related systems of the body and their impact on overall health. Doctors of chiropractic are primary-care professionals who specialize in spinal health and well-being. Through careful spinal adjustments, teamed with coaching on diet, exercise and overall good health habits, patients can tap into the body’s homeostatic intelligence and powers of self-healing to restore proper function.


Our research, gleaned from the series of annual perception surveys conducted with Gallup since 2015, shows millions of adults in the United States are more likely to describe chiropractic care and physical therapy as “very effective” for significant back and neck pain (70 percent combined), while just 15 percent thought the same of back surgery’s effectiveness.17


Patient-centered, integrated care that includes chiropractic is appropriate for most patients with musculoskeletal problems. Doctors of chiropractic are eager to work with other health-care professionals to find the most effective management option for improved patient outcomes.


Models of healthcare that integrate chiropractic are preferred over the more traditional approaches to the handling of back pain, which commonly involves emergency-room visits, liberal use of imaging, opioids, spinal injections and surgery.18


More broadly, clinical researchers have identified potential solutions that offer new directions for chiropractic care. These include the redesign of clinical pathways, integrated health and occupational interventions to cut work disability, changes in compensation and disability claims policies, and public health and prevention strategies.19


In our 2017 survey, patients who had seen a medical doctor, chiropractor or physical therapist for significant back or neck pain in the last 12 months rated their chiropractors and physical therapists particularly well on style of interaction and wait times. Roughly nine out of 10 patients surveyed who saw a chiropractor said he or she listens, provides quick, convenient access to care, demonstrates compassion and


Quality Care Rating


9 out of 10 patients surveyed who saw a chiropractor said he or she listens, provides quick, convenient access to care, demonstrates compassion and explains things well.


explains things well. Of those who had seen a medical doctor for the same pain in the last year, most were less likely to say their medical doctor often did these things.20


PALMER COLLEGE OF CHIROPRACTIC


07


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24