Chiropractic Treatment Valuable for Reducing Low Back Issues

Many people in our Napa office have come to us with a goal of relieving their back discomfort, and Dr. Bettencourt has helped many of them conquer this problematic and debilitating concern. However, this is really no surprise since research shows that people who engage in treatment via chiropractic generally have a faster recovery period than those who choose treatment with a medical doctor.

One Study's Outcome

Published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine involved 107 participants with acute and sub-acute pain in their lower back. For purposes of the research, each participant was randomly assigned to one of three cohert and received treatment by way of usual medical care, manual manipulation (chiropractic), or mechanical manipulation treatment using the Activator, a small handheld device that applies low levels of force to the spine to help realign it.

At the conclusion of four weeks, each individual involved in the study rated themselves in regard to both level of disability and discomfort. Those who engaged in chiropractic "demonstrated a clinically important and statistically significant reduction" of both when compared to those who participated in the other treatment methods (medical care and mechanical manipulation). Therefore, this study shows that quicker back pain recovery often begins with chiropractic.

What Faster Recovery Means to You

In the most obvious of terms, faster heal time means that you will spend less time on the couch or in bed in an effort to lessen the pain. Thus, you can get back to the activities you enjoy at a quicker rate, whether they include playing with your kids or grandkids, engaging in various types of sports, or tending to a hobby that generally requires back health, such as gardening.

Quicker recovery also means decreased expenses. This is partially due to less time off work to care for your back problems, but studies also show that chiropractic treatment often costs less than obtaining treatment via usual medical care.

So, if you would like to experience faster recovery from your back pain, call and schedule an appointment today with Dr. Bettencourt conveniently located here in Napa. The sooner you get in, the sooner you’ll feel better!

References

Liliedahl, R et al. (2010, Nov-Dec). Cost of care for common back pain conditions initiated with chiropractic doctor vs medical doctor/doctor of osteopathy as first physician: experience of one Tennessee-based general health insurer. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33(9), 640-643, doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2010.08.018 Schneider, M et al. (2014, May). A comparison of chiropractic manipulation methods and usual medical care for low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20(5), A22-A23, doi: 10.1089/acm.2014.5055.abstract Stig, LC. (2001, May). Recovery pattern of patients treated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for long-lasting or recurrent back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 24(4), 288-291. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11353940