Utilization of chiropractic services in patients with osteoarthritis and spine pain at a publicly funded healthcare facility in Canada: A retrospective study
Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada | [b] Research Department, New York Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls, NY, USA | [c] Chiropractic Program, Mount Carmel Clinic, Winnipeg, MB, Canada | [d] Manitoba Chiropractors Association, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Amber Reichardt, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellor Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada. E-mail: reichar1@myumanitoba.ca.
Abstract: 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.
