New Research: Chiropractic for Neck Pain is a Winner

​A study conducted in 2023 looked at the patterns of people with acute neck pain. The researchers were interested to know what the most cost effective therapy for neck pain was and also what type of treatments people received, depending on who they were seen by.
 
The cohort included 770,326 patients with new-onset neck pain visits. The most common initial provider specialty was chiropractor (45.2%), followed by primary care (33.4%). Initial provider specialty was strongly associated with the receipt of subsequent neck pain visits with the same provider specialty. Rates and types of diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions during follow-up also varied widely by initial provider specialty. While uncommon after initial visits with chiropractors (≤2%), CT, or MRI scans occurred in over 30% of patients with initial visits with emergency physicians, orthopedists, or neurologists. Similarly, 6.8% and 3.4% of patients initially seen by orthopedists received therapeutic injections and major surgery, respectively, compared with 0.4% and 0.1% of patients initially seen by a chiropractor.(1)
 
The summary is that within a large national cohort, chiropractors were the initial provider for a large number of patients with new-onset neck pain. Compared with patients initially seen by physician providers, patients treated initially by chiropractors or therapists received fewer and less costly imaging services and were less likely to receive invasive therapeutic interventions during follow-up.(2)
 
If you want to find out if chiropractic may help manage neck pain for you or your loved ones, have a chat with one of our chiropractors to see how they can assist.
 
 
References
1. Fenton, Joshua J. MD, MPHa,b; Fang, Shao-You PhDb; Ray, Monika PhDb,c; Kennedy, John CCS, CDIPb; Padilla, Katrine MPPb; Amundson, Russell MDd; Elton, David DCd; Haldeman, Scott DC, MD, PhDe; Lisi, Anthony J. DCf; Sico, Jason MD, MHSf,g; Wayne, Peter M. PhDh; Romano, Patrick S. MD, MPHb,c. Longitudinal Care Patterns and Utilization Among Patients With New-Onset Neck Pain by Initial Provider Specialty. Spine 48(20):p 1409-1418, October 15, 2023.