The Prevalence, Patterns and Predictors of Chiropractic Use Among Adults

This week from Dr. Cerami and Utah Sports and Wellness

From: Spine Journal, December 2017 (https://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2017/12010/The_Prevalence,_Patterns,_and_Predictors_of.17.aspx)

Quick Summary:

Chiropractic use among US adults is growing rapidly with back and neck pain as the top reasons for treatment. A majority of chiropractic patients reported that treatment not only helped with their initial reason for care but also improved their overall health and well being. An impressive number of these patients also saw a decrease in need for pain relieving medication.

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of chiropractic utilization in the US general population. Cross-sectional data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (n = 34,525) were analyzed to examine the lifetime and 12-month prevalence and utilization patterns of chiropractic use, profile of chiropractic users, and health-related predictors of chiropractic consultations. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of chiropractic use were 24.0% and 8.4%, respectively. There is a growing trend of chiropractic use among US adults from 2002 to 2012. Back pain (63.0%) and neck pain (30.2%) were the most prevalent health problems for chiropractic consultations and the majority of users reported chiropractic helping a great deal with their health problem and improving overall health or well-being. A substantial number of chiropractic users had received prescription (23.0%) and/or over-the-counter medications (35.0%) for the same health problem for which chiropractic was sought and 63.8% reported chiropractic care combined with medical treatment as helpful. Both adults older than 30 years (compared to younger adults), and those diagnosed with spinal pain (compared to those without spinal pain) were more likely to have consulted a chiropractor in the past 12 months.

These authors also note:

• “Back pain (63.0%) and neck pain (30.2%) were the most prevalent health problems for chiropractic consultations and the majority of users reported chiropractic helping a great deal with their health problem and improving overall health or well-being.”
• “A substantial number of chiropractic users had received prescription (23.0%) and/or over-the-counter medications (35.0%) for the same health problem for which chiropractic was sought and 64% reported chiropractic care combined with medical treatment as helpful.”
• “A substantial proportion of US adults utilized chiropractic services during the past 12 months and reported associated positive outcomes for overall well-being and/or specific health problems for which disease prevention (43%), to improve their energy (16%), or to improve athletic or sports performance (15%).”
• “Many respondents reported positive outcomes of chiropractic utilization agreeing that such care had helped them to improve overall health and make them feel better (67%), to sleep better (42%), and to reduce stress or to relax (40%).”
• “Back pain or back problems (63%) and neck pain or neck problems (30%) were by far the top specific health problems for which people consulted a chiropractor in the past 12 months, followed by joint pain/stiffness (14%) and other pain conditions. Around two in three users (65%) reported that chiropractic had helped a great deal to address these health problems.”
• “Chiropractic was used mainly because of respondents believing it would help when combined with their medical treatment (65%), owing to a perception that it treated the cause and not just the symptoms of their health problem (62%), and owing to it being considered natural (38%).”
• “The most common complaints encountered by a chiropractor are back pain and neck pain and is in line with systematic reviews identifying emerging evidence on the efficacy of chiropractic for back pain and neck pain.”