F4CP Lauds CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines, Chiropractic is Safer, Non-Drug Approach for Pain Relief

"CDC recommends conservative care and alternative options prior to prescription painkiller treatment."

www.yes2chiropractic.org

 

In response to the new federal guidelines issued by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding opioid prescribing, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP), the voice for the chiropractic profession, notes that many individuals are prescribed opioids for pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions, including low back and neck pain. Individuals utilizing opioids may be unaware of the effectiveness of alternative care, which includes chiropractic.

“The growing opioid epidemic is finally gaining the attention it deserves," states Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president, F4CP, referencing a report which found that in 2014, the increased utilization of opioids led to 28,647 deaths – or 61 percent of total drug overdose fatalities in the U.S. "Chiropractic care is a hands-on, non-invasive approach documented to yield improved clinical outcomes, reduced costs and high levels of patient satisfaction.”

According to a report published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), spinal manipulative therapy effectively and significantly reduced pain and improved function for patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain. Today, doctors of chiropractic (DCs) perform 94 percent of spinal manipulations in the U.S. Additionally, an earlier BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders study on upper cervical chiropractic care for neck pain, headache, mid-back, and low back pain concludes that 9.1 out of 10 patients indicated a very high level of patient satisfaction.

“Collectively, we need to implement changes across the health care continuum, and the care provided by a doctor of chiropractic is the key to effectively managing pain and avoiding opioid drug treatment," adds Dr. McAllister, who notes that Americans consume 80 percent of the world’s opioid supply, despite comprising less than five percent of the global population. “Health care providers across all disciplines should consider safe and effective conservative care options prior to prescribing addictive and potentially fatal opioids – which have yet to be deemed effective for long-term pain management.”

Under the new guidelines, the CDC encourages doctors to utilize conservative care prior to prescription painkiller treatment, and prescribe painkillers only after considering non-addictive pain relievers, behavioral changes and alternative options. Additionally, the CDC recommends doctors prescribe the lowest effective dose possible, and only continue prescribing the drugs if patients show substantial improvement.

Doctors of chiropractic, who receive a minimum of seven years of higher education, are specifically trained to diagnose, evaluate and provide non-pharmaceutical care and rehabilitation to individuals suffering from acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, headaches and general health concerns.

The F4CP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the value of chiropractic care, and cites chiropractic care as an integral part of the solution in mitigating opioid misuse, abuse and dependency.

Alexis Lignos

Marketing Director at Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

201-641-1911 (52)

alexis@f4cp.com

For more information about chiropractic care or to find a doctor in your area, visit: www.F4CP.org/findadoctor.

About Foundation for Chiropractic Progress

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) informs and educates the general public about the value of chiropractic care.

Visit www.f4cp.com; www.yes2chiropractic.org; call 866-901-F4CP(3427). 

Social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube.

Niel-Asher Technique for Frozen Shoulder [1]

The Niel-Asher Technique™ is a 'natural' method of treatment that utilizes the body's own healing mechanisms. No drugs, no surgery.

The technique uses a specific and unique sequence of manipulations and pressure points to the shoulder joints and soft-tissues. In essence, these can be thought of as 'inputs' into the nervous system.

The technique has been in use since 1997 and has been adopted and approved by Doctors, Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, and Chiropractors in the UK, Europe, and the United States.

NAT works with the body, listening to the body's wisdom - not by forcing the arm into the restricted ranges but by applying gentle stimulation to muscles whilst they are resting.[1]

- See more at: http://www.frozenshoulder.com/NAT#sthash.Cshgkm61.dpuf

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[1] Asher, Simeon Niel. "NAT - Treatment Topography." The Niel-Asher Technique. Niel Asher Healthcare Ltd., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. .

Sports and Chiropractic Care

Sports and Chiropractic Care

Trigger Points Explained

VA Research Update: Back Pain Treatments

This article appears in the Spring 2015 edition of Veterans’ Wellness - A Guide to Healthy Living for Veterans in Upstate New York[1]

Back pain - specifically lower back pain - is very common among Veterans and causes significant disability. Given the prevalence of this condition, the Canandaigua VA Medical Center is carrying out three studies to help identify effective treatments.

Results of two of the studies, which involved 380 Veterans from the Greater Rochester area, were recently published in the journals Chiropractic &Manual Therapies  and Geriatric Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation. The third study is expected to be completed in December, according to Paul Dougherty, DC, staff chiropractor and chiropractic residency director at Canandaigua VA Medical Center and Institutional Review Board chair at Syracuse VA Medical Center.

“Our research so far shows that treatments including spinal manipulative therapy and active exercise can relieve lower back pain,” Dougherty says. In spinal manipulative therapy, a chiropractor applies pressure to the spine to promote movement in spinal joints that are not moving well. Active exercise is exercise patients perform on their own at a doctor’s direction.

Another finding is that fear of pain may actually make back pain worse. “It is important that people with lower back pain continue to remain active and engaged in their lives and not let the pain defeat them,” he says. “If you are suffering from lower back pain, talk to your VA provider about what treatment alternatives are best for you.”

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[1] DeLancey, Darlene A., M.S., and Kathleen Hider, eds. "VA Research Update: Back Pain Treatments." Veterans' Wellness Spring 2015: 11. Print.

Evidence Based Medicine - Back Doctors Near Me

“To the best of our ability, Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness agrees to provide our patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. We will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

www.Chiro-Trust.org

At Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness we practice evidence based medicine which is:

“The conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research.”

And therefore we utilize outcome measures such as:

• Oswestry Back Pain Disability Index (ODI)

• Keele STarT Back Screening Tool

• Neck Disability Index (NDI)

• Functional & Visual Analog Pain Scale(s)

• DASH Questionnaire

• Headache Disability Index

In order to show that the treatment given was reasonable and necessary as well as determine when the patient’s clinical status has reached maximum improvement.

Evidence Based Medicine

CHIRO-TRUST

ChiroTrust™ members are a group of Doctors of Chiropractic worldwide who have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge” (See Above) and are dedicated to providing conservative, mainstream chiropractic care to patients without sales pressure, long-term recommendations, unnecessary therapies or excessive costs.

Neck Pain – Management Strategies: Vol 15 Iss 5 The In Good Hands Newsletter from Chiro-Trust.org

“To the best of our ability, Life in Motion Chiropractic and Wellness agrees to provide our patients convenient, affordable, and mainstream Chiropractic care. We will not use unnecessary long-term treatment plans and/or therapies.”

www.Chiro-Trust.org

More ABC US news | ABC World News

When you make an appointment for a chiropractic evaluation for your neck pain, your doctor of chiropractic will provide both in-office procedures as well as teach you many self-help approaches so that as a “team”, together WE can manage your neck pain or headache complaint to a satisfying end-point. So, what are some of these procedures? Let’s take a look!

In the office, you can expect to receive a thorough history, examination, x-ray (if warranted), and a discussion about what chiropractic care can be done for you and your condition. Your doctor will map out a treatment plan and discuss commonly shared goals of:

• Pain reduction

• Posture/alignment restoration

• Prevention of future episodes.

Pain reduction approaches include (but are not limited to):

  - joint mobilization and/or manipulation

  - muscle/ligament stretching techniques

  - inflammation control by the use of physical therapy modalities (such as electrical stimulation), ice, and possibly anti-inflammatory vitamin / herbal therapies. 

Your chiropractor will also teach you proper body mechanics for bending, lifting, pulling, pushing and help you avoid positions or situations where you might re-injure the area. 

Posture/alignment restoration can include methods such as wall stand and/or stork exercises, respiratory "re-training", spinal stabilization exercises, and/or foot orthotic inserts. 

The third goal of future episode prevention is often a combination ongoing treatments in the office and strategies you can employ at home. This includes (but is not limited to):

• Whether you should use ice, heat, or both at times of acute exacerbation

• Avoiding positions or movements that create sharp/lancinating pain

• DOING THE EXERCISES that you've been taught ON A REGULAR BASIS

• Eating and an “anti-inflammatory” diet (lean meats & lots of fresh fruits/veggies).

Let’s talk exercise! Your doctor of chiropractic will teach you exercises that are designed to increase range of motion (ROM), re-educate a flat or reversed curve in the neck, and strengthen / stabilize the muscles in the neck. Studies show that the deep neck flexor muscles – those that are located deep, next to the spine in the front of the neck – are frequently weak in patients with neck pain. These muscles are NOT voluntary so you have to “trick” them into contracting with very specific exercises. Your doctor will also teach you exercises that you can do EVERY HOUR of your work day (for 10-15 seconds) that are designed to prevent neck pain from gradually worsening so you aren't miserable by the end of work. 

Along these lines, he/she will discuss the set-up of your work station and how you might improve it – whether it’s a chair, desk, computer position, a table/work station height issue, or a reaching problem; using proper “ergonomics” can REALLY HELP! 

Posture & Ergonomics Training

Your doctor will also advise you not to talk on the phone pinching the receiver between your head and shoulder, to face the person you are talking to (avoiding prolonged head rotation), to tuck in your chin as a posture training exercise, and more. 

Chiro-Trust.org

ChiroTrust™ members are a group of Doctors of Chiropractic worldwide who have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge” and are dedicated to providing conservative, mainstream chiropractic care to patients without sales pressure, long-term recommendations, unnecessary therapies or excessive costs.