Collaboration between medical doctors and chiropractors is an important part of modern musculoskeletal care.
As research continues to support conservative, non-drug treatments for conditions such as low back pain, opportunities for collaboration between these professions have grown. An important part of this collaboration is a shared commitment to evidence-based care.
This includes following established public health recommendations, using diagnostic imaging such as X-ray only when clinically indicated and choosing treatments supported by current research. When medical doctors and chiropractors share these principles, patients benefit from more coordinated, effective and appropriate care.
A clinical trial published in JAMA Network Open sought to determine whether adding chiropractic care to medical care results in better outcomes in patients with low back pain.
The research team found that combined chiropractic and medical care was better for pain, showed less disability, had lower use of pain medications and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to medical care alone. This trial provides additional support for the addition of chiropractic care as a component of multidisciplinary health care for low back pain, as recommended in current guidelines.
Throughout my years practicing in Shawano, I’ve valued the professional relationships developed with local medical doctors and other health care providers. These relationships allow us to coordinate care, communicate about patients’ progress and make referrals when another approach may be more appropriate.
Ultimately, patients benefit when health care providers work together, recognize the strengths and limitations of their respective professions and keep the patient’s best interests at the center of every decision.
Dr. Brian Grieves is a doctor of chiropractic with a master’s degree in public health and a member of the Shawano Community Health Action Team. Call 715-524-8722 for more information.
