UPFRONT | Roundup PATIENT CARE Take 5 Female vets get low-back pain relief with chiropractic care: study A new study has revealed that chiropractic care is im-proving low-back pain among female veterans, ac-cording to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). Female veterans are one of the fastest growing populations receiving treat-ment through the Veterans Administration (VA) health care system in the U.S. Published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologi-cal Therapeutics, the study’s authors note that musculo-skeletal conditions such as back pain are the most com-mon ailments among female veterans. They also report that female veterans on aver-age access VA medical care more frequently than male veterans, have a higher out-patient cost per patient and have a higher rate of ser-vice-connected disability. “Although further re-search is warranted,” the study says, “chiropractic care may be of value in con-tributing to the pain man-agement needs of this unique patient population.” Chiropractic services are one of the conservative (non-drug) treatment op-tions for pain offered in the VA. They are available at half of the major VA medical facilities in the United States. Efforts to expand chiro-practic services to American veterans recently gained new momentum in Congress. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), ranking member of the Veterans Subcommittee on Health, and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), have joined forces to broaden the range of services and care options available to veterans by supporting the Chiro-practic Care Available to All Veterans Act (H.R. 103). The bill – supported by sev-eral major veterans groups – would require chiropractic services to be offered at all U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers and codify chiropractic care as a standard benefit for veterans using VA health care. There is a bipartisan companion bill in the Senate (S. 609). “Chiropractic’s non-drug, non-addictive and noninva-sive approach to pain man-agement can help alleviate disabling pain and improve function,” said ACA presi-dent David Herd, DC. “That’s why chiropractors are an important part of the health care team in the VA.” Chiropractors focus on disorders of the musculo-skeletal system, most often treating complaints such as back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs and headaches. Widely known for their expertise in spinal manipu-lation, chiropractors are also trained to recommend ther-apeutic and rehabilitative exercises, and to provide dietary and lifestyle coun-seling. – Newswise WHAT’S ONLINE Canadianchiropractor.ca Canadian Chiropractor offers a lot more content on its website. Check out some of these pages the next time you go online. Reporting on the latest developments in health care as well as trends in practice News Video Job board Looking to hire or want to make a career change? Check out the online job board for the latest opportunities or post your job for free. Watch short features, practice advice and event highlights from the video archive 8 Canadian Chiropractor February 2018 www.canadianchiropractor.ca Illustration: Brian Fray
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