Research Shows Chiropractic A Less Expensive Solution To Lower Back Pain Than Other Healthcare Options
According to the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association (NZCA) the eight out of ten[1] Kiwis that will suffer with lower back pain at some point in their lives could significantly reduce their healthcare
costs by visiting a chiropractor first.
Research published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics[2] from a US study demonstrates that low back pain care initiated with a chiropractor saves 40 percent on health care
costs when compared with care initiated through a medical clinic. The study concludes that there would be highly
significant cost savings if more management of lower back pain was transferred from a medical model to a functional
chiropractic approach.
Dr. Hayden Thomas, spokesman for the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association says: ‘The debate over whether chiropractic
is more cost efficient and effective than conventional healthcare when it comes to lower back pain has been going on for
years. However, as more and more research is completed, figures continue to demonstrate that patients, insurers and
governments can make substantial cost savings if utilising chiropractic care instead of drugs and surgery for mechanical
low back pain.’
Dr. Thomas adds that the recent economic downturn, as well as the expensive holiday season, could tempt people to skimp
on healthcare, as they perceive it to be an unaffordable expense.
‘Christmas is an expensive time of year and the recent global economic downturn is also still impacting everyday life
and the purchases that families choose to make,’ says Dr. Thomas.
‘Knowing that chiropractic care may ultimately be more cost effective could encourage those individuals suffering from
back pain to seek treatment. Dealing with their back pain problem
might not seem as financially prohibitive when considering all factors such as out of pocket expenses, insurer and
government contributions, lost work days, reduced performance and overall reduction in quality of work and home life.
‘It’s also important to point out that once individuals are receiving chiropractic care, their satisfaction with the
treatment is very high.[3] This means that as well as their bank account looking healthier, the patients are getting the results they want and
need to live a healthy, happy and fulfilled life.’
Further information on the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association can be found at www.chiropractic.org.nz.
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