What is the difference between chiropractic and orthopedic care for musculoskeletal pain?
What is the difference between chiropractic and orthopedic care for musculoskeletal pain? Simply, it is the difference between function and symptoms. For case in point let us take simple nontraumatic low back pain. 80% of the adult population in the United States at one time experiences lower back pain.
Standard orthopedic treatment includes muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory, painkillers, or any combination. From a chiropractic viewpoint, it is understood that nontraumatic lower back pain can be recurrent and it is important to find the cause of the lower back pain. Addressing the cause may minimize the number of recurrences and intensity of future lower back pain.
This approach takes more time, involving listening to the patient, examination and developing a plan of action that involves home care and changes in the patient’s activities that may precipitate lower back pain.
The in-office treatment is also quite different in that the spine is evaluated by its function. Between each vertebra there is a small degree of movement that must be present for proper spine function. This is only evaluated by a technique called motion palpation. This is not evaluated by the typical range of motion of bending forward, backward, and side to side. When there is a loss of movement between 2 vertebra it is termed joint dysfunction or commonly in chiropractic known as subluxation. The result of joint dysfunction is muscle spasms causing pain. Chiropractic manipulative therapy is targeted at restoring the normal joint play between the vertebrae. When this is achieved the spine function normalizes and decreases the muscle spasm and thereby eliminates pain. Home care involves stretching exercises, ice or heat therapy and changes in activities that may have brought on the back pain. There are also natural muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories that in my experience are more effective than pharmaceuticals without side effects.
The following is reported in “Cost Efficiency and Effectiveness of Including Doctor of Chiropractic to Offer Treatment Under Medicaid: A Critical Apprising of Missouri Inclusion of Chiropractic under Missouri Medicaid.” December 2019
“The Blue Cross Blue Shield study cited earlier by Liliedahl indicated a cost savings of 40% when individuals first see a chiropractic physician.” The conclusion in the same report states; “Chiropractic care provides better outcomes at lower cost. Chiropractic treatment and care leads to a reduction in the cost of spinal surgery. Chiropractic care leads to cost savings from reduced use and abuse of opioid prescription drugs.”
