Back pain is one of the most frequent sources of chronic pain in the United States. According to the American Chiropractic Association, anywhere from 80-90% of the American population suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Recent studies found that adults with lower back pain are in a worse physical state of health than those without lower back pain; surprisingly these studies have found that those affected by lower back pain have been seen to have a worse state of mental health as well. Many of these individuals are unable or unwilling to have complicated surgical procedures to fix these issues; this is where affordable chiropractic practices come in.
Non-Surgical Healing
Chiropractic medicine helps treat patients with health problems associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system; this includes nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons located along the spine. By using spinal adjustments, manipulation, and other non-invasive techniques, chiropractors help manage the back and neck pain experienced by their patients. Up to 35% of chiropractic patients are treated for mid or lower back pain and nearly 20% are treated for neck pain. A study of patients with back injuries found that 42.7% of patients who consulted with a surgeon first ended up having surgery; in comparison only 1.5% of those who consulted with a chiropractor first ended up having surgery. For those looking to find non-invasive relief for their chronic back or neck pain, local chiropractic services may be able to help.
Building a Practice
For those interested in chiropractic medicine, they must first receive a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree along with a state practitioner’s license; a Doctor of Chiropractic program typically takes 4 years to complete and requires at least 3 years of some undergraduate college education for admission. Since chiropractic employment is projected to grow by 15% from 2012 to 2022, many active and prospective chiropractors are looking for better ways to build up their practice. To this end, many are turning to chiropractic coaching programs. Chiropractic coaching programs are designed to help chiropractors build their practice based on the chiropractor’s personal goals and philosophy of practice. Such chiropractic coaching programs can help chiropractors receive an independent perspective on the state of their healthcare field, including the issues that impact chiropractic practice. Chiropractic coaches also act as an extension of a chiropractor’s human resources department, assisting in the hiring and training of new employees as needed. Those looking to build up their practice ought to turn to chiropractic consultants to ensure their success and longevity in this highly-competitive field.