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3/30/2015 Optum Insurance Company Data Shows Over $1 Billion Potential Savings with Chiropractic Treatment FirstRead Now Chiropractic treatment could save $ billions A recent analysis of Optum insurance data concluded, "spinal manipulation is the single service that -- if not included during management of a non-surgical spinal episode -- will lead to higher total episode costs. Optum data, which covered a two-year span, projected a total savings of $1.3 billion had its reported 14.7 million non-surgical spinal episodes begun with chiropractic care."
“Chiropractic care advances the opportunity for optimal outcomes across care delivery, quality and cost” The data from patients covered under Optum insurance plans showed that when spinal manipulation is performed "within the first 10 days of a spinal episode, results include:
“Musculoskeletal conditions rank amongst the costliest in health care and are a top concern for all stakeholders – patients and payers, alike,” states Gerard Clum, DC, spokesperson, F4CP. “Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) provide evidence-based, cost-effective care, which includes spinal manual care appropriate for the management of these conditions and other health concerns.” Imagine the billions saved if all insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, Military, Veterans Administration and other health care systems recommended trying chiropractic treatment first for spinal problems (not to mention extremity problems); and more importantly the reduced suffering.
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 The medical community has not always acknowledged the benefits of chiropractic treatment, but that is gradually improving. Medical institutions and organizations are increasingly recognizing the value of chiropractic. Some medical treatment guidelines even recommend trying conservative chiropractic treatment before trying more invasive medical treatments.
An online article published by Harvard's Medical School describes chiropractic treatment and its benefits: "Most research on chiropractic has focused on spinal manipulation for back pain. Chiropractic treatment for many other problems—including other musculoskeletal pain, headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, and fibromyalgia—has also been studied. A recent review concluded that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraine, neck pain, and whiplash." It's good to see more positive information about conservative treatment like chiropractic that has been shown to be safe, effective, and low cost. More patients should experience the benefits of chiropractic treatment first, before trying more invasive medical care.  Reduce Injury Risk With Chiropractic Treatment Researchers looking to study the risk of injury following chiropractic treatment found a surprise.
Researchers analyzed Medicare data of patients aged 66-99 who were treated for neuromusculoskeletal complaints by their primary medical physician or chiropractic physician. They specifically looked for risk of traumatic injury to the head, neck, or trunk following an office visit for chiropractic spinal manipulation. The risk of injury after chiropractic treatment was significantly lower than risk of injury after a medical visit. Data showed only 4 injury incidents per 10,000 chiropractic visits, as compared to 15.3 incidents per 10,000 primary care medical visits. Risk of Traumatic Injury 76% Lower One Week Following Chiropractic Treatment Researchers concluded that among Medicare beneficiaries aged 66-99 with an office visit for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, risk of injury within 7 days was 76% lower among subjects with a chiropractic office visit as compared to those who saw a primary care physician. The safety of chiropractic treatment has been well documented for years. Chiropractic adjusting has also been shown to help improve balance and reduce falls in the elderly, which may play an important role in the reduction of injury following treatment.
As the body changes during pregnancy the head, spine and pelvis can become biomechanically stressed. Chiropractic care provides gentle and effective adjustments to relieve headaches, neck and back pain - all without medication.
This is especially important since a UCLA study found that the drug acetaminophen, if taken during pregnancy, has been associated with a higher risk in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. A specific postural and spinal evaluation combined with appropriate treatment can establish balance within the pregnant woman's pelvis. This helps reduce unwanted stress to the uterus in the supporting ligaments. For a healthier pregnancy more women are discovering that chiropractic care delivers.  As part of National Chiropractic Health Month, we take a look at one the biggest issues affecting patient's ability to heal from injuries - delaying treatment.
The National Institute of Health notes pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. Why do so many Americans experience chronic pain? It's common to wait after an injury to see if it will go away on its own, but waiting too long only makes it harder to bounce back. Research confirms that waiting more than 7 days to treat an injury increases your risk of chronic problems. But why? It's all about how the body heals from an injury: Initially, inflammation increases at the site of an injury. This means swelling, redness, warmth, and PAIN. Inflammation increases over 1-3 days, which explains why pain may not be immediate but can build after a day or two. Frequently, the pain and inflammation will start to reduced after a few days - this is where you can get in trouble... Within a week of injury, the body starts repairing soft tissues with fibriotic scar tissue. Picture normal muscles and soft tissues as nicely organized fibers lined up next to each other. Now picture scar tissue as a tangled nest of fibers trying to patch up a hole. Pain may be fairly well controlled at this point, but as scar tissue builds, increased stiffness and joint restrictions can develop. If scar tissue develops enough to restrict a full range of motion in a joint, it's only a matter of time before pain and inflammation return -- because the joint can't function correctly. Moral: Don't delay treatment more than one week or the risk of chronic problems increases Chiropractic treatment is key to not only reducing pain and inflammation, but also improving scar tissue function so your joints are moving correctly again. The key is healthy movement. Chiropractic adjustments help the scar tissue align and reorganize to be more similar to your body's normal healthy soft tissues. This reorganization process can take months, but chiropractic care tends to accelerate this natural response. Don't rely on pain as your only indicator of health. If you pay attention to how well your body is moving and functioning, you may be able to avoid the pain in the first place.  Less inflammation with every back stroke. Physical activity has long been recognized as an important part of staying healthy, but a recent study shows it has the potential to also improve our health by reducing inflammation.
Why does reducing inflammation matter? Inflammation has been linked to most all chronic diseases and conditions including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, asthma & allergies, digestive problems, arthritis, Alzheimer's, aches & pains, etc. Many conditions that are considered a part of aging are more likely the result of increasing inflammation. Temporary localized inflammation may be helpful for healing a cut or scrape, but inflammation throughout the body is a growing problem with many Americans. Research on physical activity & inflammation: In a study published in the Journal Circulation1, 4289 participants reported their level of physical activity, and blood tests measuring inflammation (CRP and IL-6) were performed over an 10 year period. Physically active participants had lower measured levels in inflammation. Based on this data the researchers noted, "Regular physical activity is associated with lower markers of inflammation over 10 years of follow-up and thus may be important in preventing the pro-inflammatory state seen with aging." "Regular physical activity...may be important in preventing the pro-inflammatory state seen with aging." This is powerful news for those who have not heard it before. Regular activity could help prevent or improve a variety of chronic conditions. Exercise can help us stay younger and healthier. Now before you start looking for a shortcut to living younger, consider that anti-inflammatory medications will not automatically provide the same health benefits. That handful of pills carries an increased risk of stroke (in otherwise healthy individuals) among other problems. You can't cheat your way to better health, but there is another way to boost your inflammation-killing routine even further: an anti-inflammation diet. Combine regular physical activity with an anti-inflammation diet to supercharge your health. The basics of an anti-inflammation diet include:
For more on an anti-inflammation diet read our article. Take charge of your health and see how much you can benefit from naturally reducing your inflammation. 2/6/2012 NE Patriots and NY Giants: The Essential Role of Chiropractic Care to Super Bowl XLVIRead Now CARMICHAEL, Calif. – Feb. 1, 2012 – The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, points to the role of the team Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) in optimizing functionality, endurance and overall conditioning. Dr. Michael Miller of the Patriots and Dr. Robert DeStefano of the Giants explain that chiropractic is fundamental to the consequences of jarring impacts, enhancing body mechanics and joint motion while improving structural balance vital to preventing and addressing many common injuries. “Professional athletes rely greatly on the coordinated efforts of the entire healthcare team, comprised of athletic trainers, rehabilitation specialists, physical therapists, orthopedists and chiropractors,” says Dr. DeStefano. “With the exception of 24/7 availability, preparing for Super Bowl is no different than the regular season. As injuries present themselves, we work systematically to provide the athlete with the care needed. In the end, we hope for quick recovery and high-level performance.” Dr. Miller adds, “Most of our players will get adjusted prior to games to adequately prepare their bodies for battle. Several times during the playoffs, incidents occurred that required chiropractic care and, subsequent to sideline treatment, players were able to return to action the following play. We expect to have the same efficiency going into and during the Super Bowl.” Viewed by both teams as a valuable healthcare component, chiropractic care is commonly used to address neuromusculoskeletal strain injuries, including neck pain, low back pain, strains to the hamstring and quadriceps, and certain whiplash injuries. Additionally, it provides treatment for other extremity problems, such as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), carpal and tarsal tunnel misalignments, and shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle tribulations. Being involved with the Patriots for over 30 years, Dr. Miller knows first-hand that the players appreciate the service he provides, and he is excited to enter another Super Bowl together, sharing, “As we get closer, I'm reminded of a mantra from head coach Bill Belichick who says, 'Do your job. If done well, it will reap rewards.' I wish both teams health through this next game and may the best team WIN!” The NFL has come a long way and so has their appreciation of chiropractic. Chiropractic care was once considered unusual in the NFL, but now every team has a chiropractor on staff. Why? Because it works and players demanded it to keep them healthy and help them win. The video below shows how Joe Montana and other 49ers once had to get chiropractic care on their own to help them deal with the repeated injuries sustained on the field. Now players like Jerry Rice and Aaron Rodgers regularly discuss the value of chiropractic care and how it has helped them succeed in the game. 1/17/2012 Annals of Internal Medicine: Chiropractic & Exercise Better than Meds for Neck PainRead NowA study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine compared the treatment of 272 adults with neck pain lasting at least 2 weeks. They were treated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT), home exercises, or medications (anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, pain killers). Improvement was periodically evaluated over 52 weeks.
The researchers found that chiropractic and exercise were significantly more beneficial than medications for patients suffering neck pain. This significant improvement was noted within 8 weeks for chiropractic treatment and within 26 weeks for home exercises. The improved benefit lasted at least 52 weeks (the length of the study). Read the neck pain study here. |
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Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your treating doctor. This blog is not a doctor and will not diagnose or treat your problems.
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