Utilization of Chiropractic Services in Patients
with Osteoarthritis and Spine Pain at a
Publicly Funded Healthcare Facility
in Canada: A Retrospective Study

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil 2022 (Feb 25) [EPUB] ~ FULL TEXT

Amber Reichardt, Steven R Passmore, Audrey Toth, Gerald Olin

Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management,
University of Manitoba,
Winnipeg, MB, Canada.

---

---

Background:   Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal diseases worldwide. There is preliminary evidence from experimental studies and consensus documents that chiropractic management may alleviate spine and/or extremity OA related pain in the short term.

Objective:   This research explores the potential relationship of a pragmatic course of care, including soft tissue therapy, spinal manipulation, and other treatments commonly delivered by chiropractors, to spine and extremity pain in patients with OA.

Methods:   A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the chiropractic program at a publicly funded healthcare facility was conducted. The primary outcome measures for patients diagnosed with spine and/or extremity OA (n= 76) were numeric pain scores of each spinal and extremity region at baseline and discharge, and a change score was determined.

Results:   Statistically significant improvements that exceed a clinically meaningful difference in pain numeric rating scale scores were demonstrated by point change reductions from baseline to discharge visits. Change scores exceeding a minimally clinically important difference of "2-points" were present in the sacroiliac (-2.91), extremity (-2.84), cervical (-2.73), thoracic (-2.61), and lumbar (-2.59) regions.

Conclusion:   Patients diagnosed with OA in a socioeconomically disadvantaged community demonstrated reductions in mean pain scores in both a clinically meaningful and statistically significant manner concurrent with a course of chiropractic care.

Keywords:   Osteoarthritis; chiropractic; delivery of healthcare; extremity; musculoskeletal disease; pain; retrospective studies; spine; vulnerable populations.

Return to SPINAL PAIN MANAGEMENT

Since 3-08-2022