News & Events

Chiropractic Manipulation Best Option
For Low Back Pain, According to Patient Survey

In light of a new survey showing that chiropractic spinal manipulation is the top-rated treatment for people suffering with back pain, patients should consider a consultation with a doctor of chiropractic, says the American Chiropractic Association.

A leading consumer product rating and survey publisher released the survey results of more than 14,000 Americans on April 6.

The survey rated doctors of chiropractic as the top practitioner, with survey respondents noting that they were more likely to be "highly satisfied" with the care received from their doctor of chiropractic (59 percent) than their primary care physician (34 percent).

"For the treatment of back pain, few options are better than chiropractic," says ACA President Glenn Manceaux, DC. "As shown in this latest survey, chiropractic spinal manipulation is an evidence-based and effective treatment for low-back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Coupled with the high levels of patient satisfaction, patients should turn to chiropractic as their first choice."

To compare which treatments helped most, survey respondents were asked to rate a comprehensive list of potential remedies as well as their satisfaction with the health care professionals they visited. Most survey respondents had tried five or six different treatments on average, and many found that their back pain interfered with their daily activities, including sleep and their sex life.

Doctors of chiropractic provide drug-free, non-invasive treatment options for many types of pain and inflammation. For example, chronic back pain, neck pain, joint pain and headaches can often be reduced with the appropriate combination of chiropractic manipulation, rehabilitative exercises and lifestyle counseling - all of which are offered by doctors of chiropractic in a patient's personalized treatment plan.

A significant amount of evidence has shown that the use of chiropractic care for certain conditions can be more effective than traditional medical care, with many patients feeling improvement shortly after their first chiropractic visit.

For more information about chiropractic care, or to find a doctor of chiropractic near you, visit the Web site of the American Chiropractic Association, www.acatoday.org.

The American Chiropractic Association, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest professional association in the world representing doctors of chiropractic. The ACA provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession.

Medicaid Update

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted unanimously on Tuesday, January 27, for a committee bill (S-053) that recommends reinstating adult chiropractic in Medicaid.

This does not reverse the Emergency Rule removing Adult Chiropractic from Medicaid effective February 1, 2009. However, it is a positive step toward having the benefit reinstated at some point in the future. This new bill still has to pass both the House and Senate, be signed into law by the Governor, and an appropriation of money must be made to pay for DCs services.

Your letters and phone calls have made a difference! Please continue to contact your Senators and Representatives to support this bill. To find out who your Senators and Representatives are click here. To download a flyer to post in your office or to give to patients click here.

CCGPP AND COCSA REACH AGREEMENT ON BEST PRACTICES DOCUMENT

The chiropractic profession made a huge advance this past weekend when the Congress of Chiropractic State Associations (COCSA) delegates and members of the CCGPP Council came to an agreement on the CCGPP's best practices process.

Members of the CCGPP Council & Commission met with the COCSA delegates in Baltimore at COCSA's annual conference for an informational forum.  Following in depth presentations by CCGPP leaders, a frank exchange of ideas and concerns was held in a structured format. More than 100 representatives participated in the spirited discussion, which sought to address concerns raised since release of the first draft of CCGPP's low back evidence synthesis. At the conclusion of the lengthy discussion, COCSA delegates unanimously approved a set of recommendations for the low back draft, which CCGPP embraced.

"We are pleased to have had this opportunity to address the concerns of COCSA representatives, and to put to rest the misconceptions and misinformation which has been circulated in the past regarding our initial draft of the evidence synthesis and stratification for low back conditions," Dr Wayne Whalen, CCGPP Chairman noted.

"We always knew that reasonable minds would appreciate the necessity for this project, and are reassured that as a mature profession, we are capable of examining our strengths and weaknesses in a conscientious and evidence-influenced approach," said Whalen.  "It is gratifying to us to have been able to see the level of professionalism and concern for patient interests which were exhibited during the discussion.

Mr. Russ Leonard, executive director of the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association, an outspoken critic of the initial CCGPP draft, prefaced the COCSA vote by applauding the CCGPP's patient-centered model.

Similarly, Dr. Don Hirsh, President of the Maryland Chiropractic Association, praised those involved on both sides of the discussion for their professionalism and willingness to work together towards a common goal.

CCGPP is engaged in the development of a chiropractic "best practices" document, the first phase of which involves producing a stratification of the scientific evidence for commonly encountered conditions, using accepted methodology and consensus strategies.  The low back draft was released for stakeholder feedback in May 2006.  After meeting with COCSA delegates, the CCGPP agreed to amend the current draft to improve its format and make it more user friendly, and to release a second draft for review. Additional upcoming chapters include such conditions as cervical spine, thoracic spine, upper and lower extremities, soft tissue, and wellness and special population issues.

CCGPP was commissioned by COCSA to address recurring problems with third party payor reimbursement and coverage issues, a problem of increasing importance in the era of evidence-based care and healthcare funding shortfalls.  After developing the evidence stratification i.e. a comprehensive review of current literature and consensus development, the CCGPP will produce tools to assist doctors by combining the evidence, physician experience and patient preferences as part of the "best practices" evidence based approach to patient care.

For further information, please contact CCGPP at 803-808-0640 or www.CCGPP.org.

UPCOMING EVENTS