A one-page "pocket guide" titled "Moving Beyond Medications" could be a critical first step in educating medical doctors (particularly those who would like to pull away from the grips of Big Pharma) about the value of chiropractic and other nondrug therapies that have been shown to be effective at relieving pain.
The guide, developed by four of the leading organizations dedicated to promoting integrative health – the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH), the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH), the Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC) and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) – recommends that doctors educate patients on "evidence-informed non-pharmacological and self-care approaches to managing pain and promoting wellness," including, but not limited to chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, massage therapy, physical therapy, psychological approaches, mind-body therapies, yoga, tai chi and other movement therapies.
Click here to view / download the pocket guide, which recommends patient education on nondrug pain-relief options as part of a five-step process (step 1: assess the patient's pain and well being; step 2: set goals jointly with the patient; step 3: educate the patient about integrative pain management options; step 4: develop a treatment plan with the patient and address potential challenges; step 5: follow up –troubleshoot and modify treatment plan as needed).
It is recommended that the guide be disseminated by individuals and organizations to all health care providers, particularly those unfamiliar with the benefits of integrative medicine and/or those who commonly prescribe as a primary pain-relief strategy. In fact, it may serve as an initial outreach tool for doctors of chiropractic to initiate referral relationships with MDs and increase patient access to nonpharmaceutical pain-relief services such as those you provide.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
