Cost Effective Care For Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition that affects almost everyone at least once in their lifetime. It also accounts for a significant portion of all healthcare expenditures. If you are experiencing low back pain, chiropractic care is one of the treatment options available to you. There is an abundance of literature available on the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for low back pain patients. However, what is just as interesting is the cost and societal benefits associated with chiropractic management of low back pain.

Research has shown that greater access to chiropractic care is linked to a lower reliance on primary care services for treatment of low back pain. This is especially important as experts predict a severe shortage of primary care physicians in the near future. Conversely, reduced access to chiropractic care can lead to greater utilization of primary care services for spine conditions, which can result in potentially harmful opioid prescriptions, unwarranted testing, and invasive procedures, including surgery. In a 2019 study, researchers examined Medicare claim data concerning nearly 40,000 older adult chiropractic patients who moved to an area with less access to chiropractic care. The research team observed that following their move, the seniors were more likely to visit their primary care physician for spine conditions, which can lead to potentially harmful opioid prescriptions, unwarranted testing, and invasive procedures, including surgery. This equated to an additional cost of nearly $115,000 per 1,000 beneficiaries on medical services or $391 million nationally ¹.

Another study looked at the healthcare costs and utilization of 2.5 million adults with low back pain and leg pain. They found that 1.2% received surgery and these patients accounted for 29.3% of all healthcare costs among the study population. The data also show that many of the patients who received non-surgical care u If you are interested in chiropractic care for your low back pain, please consider making an appointment with Morgan Chiropractic.