Introduction to Chiropractic Care
It is a health profession that specializes in diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of the disorders that may occur in the musculoskeletal
system and the implications of these disorders on the nervous system and health
of a person. The practitioners of chiropractic largely rely on the non-invasive
methods of treatment and refer patients to surgery or medication if the need
be. This practice works even better because chiropractors promote healthy lifestyles
to their patients such as physical activity, healthy diet, excess stress, and
non-smoking.
How Is Chiropractic A More Cost Effective Option?
Many researches have been conducted to study the cost effectiveness
of chiropractic practice and other natural treatment alternative such as
massage, acupuncture, and physiotherapy compared to conventional methods of
medicine. 2012 systemic review concluded the therapy of spinal manipulation to
be more cost-effective for lower back and neck pain in comparison to exercise, physiotherapy,
and general practitioner care.
A study conducted in 2007 compared the costs of patient care
under the treatment of a chiropractor as their PCP (Primary care Physician) to
cost of care under a medical doctor. After studying 70,000 members over a
period of 7 years, the cost of hospital admission was decreased by 60.2%, the cost
per day of a hospital was lowered by 59% and the outpatient procedures and
surgeries went down by 62%. Even the costs linked to pharmaceuticals went down
by an astonishing 85% as compared to conventionally driven medical care. All
these comparisons were studies during the same time duration, using the same products
for health maintenance, and same geography.
The result being that now the medical industry and insurance
providers have accepted chiropractic care as a cost effective and viable
treatment for lower back and neck pain.
The Premises of Chiropractic
Following are the basis of chiropractic practice:
- The human body is a self regulating and self healing organism.
- The master remote control of the body lies within the nervous system with controls all functions and cells of the body including the capability of the body to self regulate and self heal.
- Interference in the functions of the nervous system causes the body to lose its ability to self regulate or self heal.
- The interference of the nervous system can be caused by disfunctioning or/and displaced vertebra in the spine called a “subluxation” in chiropractic.
- When the nervous system and spine are subluxated, the body loses its ability to properly self regulate or self heal.
- The purpose of chiropractics is to locate and heal the subluxation, using the adjustments of chiropractic, allowing the human body to regain its ability to properly self-regulate and self-heal.
Non-Invasive Method of Treatment
Chiropractics is not only effective, but it is also safe. In
the last two decades, many independent and controlled studies have been
conducted that show that chiropractics is effective and safe for the treatment of
headaches, neck pain, low back pain and other various conditions related to the
spine.
Based on these studies, there has been a consensus that
chiropractic treatment should be the first choice for the majority of spinal
problems. The extent of relief and benefit can vary depending on the condition
of individual patients and for how long their conditioned existed.
References
Dr. Zagst, D. The
Cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care vs. medical care. Retrieved from
< <http://www.naturalnews.com/036129_chiropractic_medical_care_cost_effectiveness.html#>
The chiropractic
premise. Retrieved from < http://www.chiropractic-constable.com/chiropractic-and-you/>
Dr. Engelbrecht, R. Chiropractic.
Non-invasive, low risk and cost-effective. Retrieved from < http://www.health24.com/Medical/Backache/Treatment-options/Chiropractic-non-invasive-low-risk-and-cost-effective-20120721>
What is chiropractic? Retrieved
from < http://lightchiro.com.au/chiropractic/what-is-chiropractic/>