In a study published in the October 2005 Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, authors Mitchell Haas, Rajiv Sharma and Miron Stano sought to better understand the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. Their study measured clinical outcomes, provider costs and patient satisfaction related to the treatment of lower back pain.

The study took place over two years, using the input from patients over the age of 18 who were ambulatory and experiencing lower back pain. The patients self-referred to 60 chiropractic doctors and 111 medical doctors within 14 general practice clinics and 51 chiropractic clinics.

The study’s researchers measured office costs, pain, patient satisfaction, functional disability, patient satisfaction, physical and mental health at 3 months and 12 months from the start of care.

The study showed that “manipulation-based therapy is at least as good as and, in some cases, better than other therapies.”

Although chiropractic care patients reported higher care costs. This is likely due to higher copays for chiropractic care, or that their insurance didn’t cover chiropractic care at all. Nevertheless, both acute and chronic pain patients reported higher patient satisfaction, better outcomes related to pain and functional disability. Chronic pain patients showed a marked difference in discomfort levels, as well as disability improvement.

Interested in learning more about reducing back pain? Contact Laird Chiropractic today to make an appointment.