This study from the United States wanted to compare the cost effectiveness of Chiropractic care compared to standard medical interventions for people suffering from back pain.
A little background first; in the U.S. alone, "back-pain" costs the American economy an estimated $48 billion a year. A staggering amount and one that underscores the prevalance of this problem. It is also estimated that at any given time, 80% of the population will be suffering from back pain.
Now back to the study. The researcher followed 2780 patients with mechanical low back pain who referred themselves to either Doctors of Chiropractic or General Practitioners. The cost of treatment and also the patient's satisfaction of care were monitored at 3 and 12 months after their initial visits.
The study found that initially, Chiropractic care cost more, however when additional costs involving medical care was factored in such as; advanced imaging, physical therapy, and specialists, Chiropractic care quickly became more cost-effective.
More importantly, when asked about their satisfaction of care, the respondents rated Chiropractic care more favorably than those who opted for standard medical care.
Important to note was that both choices for low back pain treatment involved physical activity and exercise, however it appears that Chiropractic patients fared better in the long term (ie. at 12 months) than patients who saw a General Practitioner. All things being considered, this study strongly suggests that Chiropractic is not only a viable treatment option for patients suffering from low back pain, but for a medical system as a whole, a cost-effective one as well!
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