Musculoskeletal conditions like back pain and neck pain are the leading cause of worker disability in the US. Every year, it's estimated that Americans spend an average of $950 billion on the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.
If you're suffering from back or neck pain, or are recovering from a work injury, you may be wondering which treatments will get you back on the job as quickly and safely as possible. Recent research suggests chiropractic care may help to expedite the process of recovering from work injuries related to back and neck pain.
A new study surveyed 651 workers from Minnesota who reported suffering from ongoing neck and back pain. Researchers found that those who visited a chiropractor were less likely to miss work. Workers who hadn't seen a chiropractor were twice as likely to have missed work as result of their pain.
One in five employees also said their pain caused them to make mistakes on the job, and those with neck pain were three times more likely to make mistakes. Unfortunately, few of these patients were aware of the benefits of chiropractic and overestimated the costs of chiropractic care by 68%.
Research shows that chiropractic is a cost-effective option for treating spinal pain, and is often more affordable than standard medical care for back pain. Additionally, another recent study found that chiropractic patients had fewer disability compared to patients under standard medical care alone.
Your Salem chiropractor, Dr. Geary Michels, is committed to helping you return to work free of pain. Whether you're recovering from a work injury or are simply experiencing back pain on the job, Dr. Michels can develop an individualized treatment plan to prevent and relieve pain. Contact our Salem office for effective relief of work injuries today.
References
Cifuentes M, Willetts J, Wasiak R. Health maintenance care in work-related low back pain and its association with disability recurrence. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011; 53(4): 396-404.
Martins B, et al. The association of complementary and alternative medicine use and health care expenditures for back and neck problems. Medical Care 2012; 50 (12): 1029-1036. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e318269e0b2.
Thousands of Minnesotans with back and neck pain don’t seek treatment. ChiroCare. Press Release. June 13, 2013. Accessed June 20, 2013.