The Evidence Based Chiropractor Blog

Hundreds of chiropractic marketing and research articles to help you grow.

Jeff Langmaid 5/19/14 Jeff Langmaid 5/19/14

Should I Consider Chiropractic or Physical Therapy? - by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Patients suffering from spine pain can often be unsure of the best treatment available. Two of the most common choices are chiropractic care and/or physical therapy. In this blog we will investigate the differences between these two options and learn which may help you the most.

Physical therapy for spine complaints generally includes passive modalities (ice, heat, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, etc) combined with stretching and strengthening exercises. Research shows moderate evidence (depending on the longevity and region of complaint) for these adjunctive treatment modalities. Physical therapy is usually performed by a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant under a script from your primary care physician. Interestingly, many health professionals have found that these modalities are best used after proper biomechanics have been established.

The hallmark of chiropractic care is spinal manipulation or adjustments. Chiropractors are the undisputed experts in this form of treatment due to their extensive training. This is one of the reasons chiropractic care and spinal manipulative therapy have a distinct advantage over physical therapy for the conservative care of spine complaints. Adjustments provide a direct effect on biomechanics of the spine and as we touched on earlier; establishing improved biomechanics is the first step in spine care. Of specific note is not all adjustments are high velocity. Many adjustive techniques utilize slower movements. Your chiropractor can speak with you regarding which adjustive technique will best serve your needs. Chiropractic care is administered by a Doctor of Chiropractic. Your chiropractor is able to diagnose, evaluate, treat or refer without the aide of another physician; although they may communicate and work with many primary care providers in your area.

After establishing an improvement in segmental motion (biomechanics of the spine) your chiropractor may choose to use some passive modalities. Additionally, he/she may provide you with instruction for stretching and strengthening exercises. In many research studies chiropractic care and spinal manipulative therapy have resulted in superior outcomes when compared against physical therapy for spine complaints. In my opinion this is for two distinct reasons. First- the adjustment or spinal manipulation is one of the most powerful, safe, and effective tools for influencing the spine. Second- chiropractors have the training and expertise to not only provide a spinal adjustment, but also to tailor either passive modalities or an exercise program to your exact needs (if necessary).

For many patients, chiropractic care is the best choice possible for conservative spine care. The information above is just the tip of the iceberg regarding conservative care of the spine, but highlights the major differences between physical therapy and chiropractic care.

A growing body of research continues to show the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care for various spine conditions. Reputable primary care physicians are referring to chiropractors each and every day but remember, you don't need a script to make an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic today!

-The Evidence Based Chiropractor is the leading DC/MD marketing and outreach group in the world. Our service is dedicated to increasing chiropractic utilization by showcasing research. Marketing to medical doctors through research is efficient, cost effective, and can dramatically improve your incoming referrals. Join us. Lets grow chiropractic together

Jeff Langmaid 5/16/14 Jeff Langmaid 5/16/14

Speaking at the Florida Chiropractic Conference July Event- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

I am extremely proud to announce that I will be speaking in the main room during the July 19-20th Florida Chiropractic Conference. I will be presenting with an array of fantastic speakers such as Armand Rossi, David Reina, and Mark Hanson.

More information is available at www.flchirocon.com

Jeff Langmaid 5/15/14 Jeff Langmaid 5/15/14

A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Medication, Acupuncture, and Chiropractic Adjustments- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

In 2003, SPINE produced a randomized clinical trial comparing medication, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation for chronic spine pain. The medication which was predominately used in this study was either Celebrex, Vioxx, or paracetamol. Chiropractic care was predominately high-velocity, low amplitude adjustments at a frequency of two treatments per week.

They looked at both chronic cervical and lumbar spine pain. The average patient in the medication group had pain for 4.5 years; for the acupuncture group it was 6.4 years; and for the spinal manipulation group the average duration of pain was 8.3 years. The maximum treatment duration was 9 weeks.

The researchers found that "...for chronic spinal pain syndromes, it appears that spinal manipulation provided the best overall short-term results, despite the fact that the spinal manipulation group had experienced the longest pretreatment duration of pain."

This finding is extremely significant, as many patients with chronic pain end up being referred to a pain management physician or neurologist. Often, these physicians choose to treat chronic pain with increasing quantities of medications, eventually leading the way for narcotics. Orthopedic surgeons and primary care physicians encounter patients with chronic spine pain every day in practice. It is imperative they know the benefits of conservative chiropractic care before relying on the medications afforded by a pain management doctors.

Jeff Langmaid 5/15/14 Jeff Langmaid 5/15/14

The Dilemma of Spine Patients with Cardiac Conditions- by The Evidence Based Chiropractor

Most primary care physicians are utilizing one of three different "treatment" options for patients with spine complaints. They are treating in-house (aka- giving medication), referring to physical therapy, or referring to an orthopedist. The catch is that millions of Americans are currently taking medications for various cardiac conditions.

Did you know that patients who are taking cardiac medications are unable to take NSAID's?

While even the patients without contraindications generally should not be prescribed NSAID's (according to many guidelines) , the patients who are unable to take NSAID's most certainly should be a target of our outreach efforts. By taking care of these patients we provide value to the primary care office (they are unable to treat these patients themselves) while also offering a option (chiropractic care) which is recommended by numerous back pain guidelines and publications.

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Jeff Langmaid 5/14/14 Jeff Langmaid 5/14/14

iBook Available Soon - "Marketing Chiropractic to Medical Doctors" by Jeff Langmaid, DC

I am extremely excited to announce that "Marketing Chiropractic to Medical Doctors" will be released in over a dozen countries shortly. I could not have completed the book without the help of many friends. Below you will find an early pre-release review of the book.

"This guide provides a step by step instructions on how to become integrated in your local healthcare community and organically tap into the enormous amount of referrals that can come with those relationships. This is something every Chiropractor should do for their practice, it will elevate your practice, but on a grand scale the profession" - Chris Holloway, DC

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