Clinical guidelines are created by healthcare professionals and researchers to help professionals and patients manage specific health problems. As low back pain is a major problem in Western society, clinical guidelines have been developed to help recommend appropriate treatment. This article will discuss clinical guidelines for healthcare professionals and patients seeking relief from low back pain and a promising approach to providing the general public with safe, cost-effective, acute and chronic relief from musculoskeletal discomfort. back.
Primary care physicians are often the first entry for patients into our healthcare system. However, research shows that the average PCP lacks adequate training for musculoskeletal disorders. For example, 79% of all physicians failed a basic musculoskeletal cognitive test.
Back pain is a big problem in America. Back pain accounts for nearly a third of chronic pain. This contributes to long-term disability, opioid addiction, and costs, both financial and social.
Subsequently, experts recently called for the creation of a primary spine physician and recommended that chiropractors be able to fulfill this role. For example, the joint committee of the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society recommends spinal manipulation, which is a non-drug treatment with proven benefits.
Chiropractors are the leading health experts when it comes to relieving lower spine pain. Chiropractic doctors are professionals trained to diagnose and treat the mechanical and physical alignment issues of back pain.
Since most lower spine pain is due to mechanical issues such as misalignment and abnormal movement of the spinal vertebrae, significant training and skill is required to perform spinal manipulations. Becoming a chiropractor requires a traditional college education and five years of study at a chiropractic college. Chiropractic educational institutions offer academic courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, kinesiology, biomechanics and diagnosis. In addition, clinical classes are offered on manipulation of the spine (referred to by chiropractors as "spinal adjustments") and extremities, use of physiological therapies such as electrical stimulation and cryotherapy, and exercise. of rehabilitation.
Guidelines for the conservative management of lower spine pain state that chiropractic spinal manipulation is very safe. This is especially true when considering possible alternative treatments to spinal surgery and pharmacological opioid narcotics.
The scientific literature that examines the financial costs of different types of treatment for low back pain also favors chiropractic care. The true costs of treatment by chiropractic physicians have been shown to be lower than those of surgery, physical therapy, spinal injections and some forms of pharmacological care.
Research and scientific guidelines clearly indicate that chiropractors should be the initial contact and providers for patients seeking relief from acute and chronic low back pain.