While back and neck pain pose challenges worldwide, access to spine care – particularly nondrug, nonsurgical spine care – is more challenging in remote areas; and even more so among Indigenous populations. That includes Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada, home to the Pimicikamak Okimawin nation, comprising approximately 8,500 members.
Substance abuse has long been a problem for Indigenous people, who "carry a disproportionate burden of the harms related to substance use, including opioids," according to The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. The potential solution: a new research project and health service in Cross Lake spearheaded by World Spine Care Canada.
According to a WSC press release, the project is designed "to reduce barriers to conservative spine care and minimize opioid exposure" in the Cross Lake Indigenous community" by "[facilitating] access to high-quality, low-cost, non-pharmaceutical, and non-surgical care for low back and neck pain as the first step in a comprehensive spine care model."
The project is funded by Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) – one of 16 harm reduction projects in Indigenous communities funded recently by the SUAP, with funding support from the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation.
The project is part of the Global Spine Care Initiative (GSCI), the scientific arm of World Spine Care. The GSCI's mission: "to bring together leading healthcare providers, scientists, specialists, government agencies, and other stakeholders to transform the delivery of spine care."
"Organisations like World Spine Care Canada make a significant difference in helping Indigenous communities struggling with chronic pain build evidence for the culturally sensitive and trauma-informed health supports they need," said Minister Bennett. "Initiatives like [‘Reducing Barriers to Conservative Spine Care to Minimize Opioid Exposure: A Global Spine Care Implementation'] will help improve the quality of life of Indigenous people living with spinal issues and reduce substance use harms in the Cross Lake First Nation Community in Manitoba."
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."
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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?
