Learn more about one study that researched and discovered cost-effective treatment options for seniors living with chronic neck pain

While the vast majority long to be financially secure in their later years, unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the current trend. In fact, the National Council on Aging reports that more than 25 million of our country’s 60+ year old’s are considered “financially unstable.” Furthermore, they’re report that most live at or below the federal poverty level, which is just shy of $30k a year. Financial insecurity often implies deciding which bills get paid in the first, which bills remain unpaid, and what items or services they can do without. These services can often include treatment options relating to one’s overall health. With many seniors suffering from chronic neck pain, in addition to other ailments, researchers have set out to discover cost-effective cures for patients seeking affordable health care.

Financial Security and your Health

An image of a One Dollar bill from the United States of America.

One study has unveiled that chiropractic can be an alternatively cost-effective treatment for seniors struggling with common chronic neck pain.

Occasionally, taking care of their own wellbeing doesn’t always make the cut. However, one study has unveiled that chiropractic can be an alternatively cost-effective treatment for seniors struggling with common chronic neck pain. The study was supported by the National Institute of Health and Health Resources and Services Administration and, in it, researchers set out to conclude the cost-effectiveness of three distinctive treatment choices: Home Exercise and Advice (HEA), HEA joined with Spinal Manipulative Treatment (SMT), and HEA accompanied with Supervised Rehabilitative Exercise (SRE).

Cost-Effective Treatment Options

A woman receives a neck adjustment from her chiropractor.

SMT and HEA together “resulted in the greatest reduction of neck pain and disability, and the most gains in QALYs.”

Results were distributed in the November 2016 version of The Spine Journal and, among those examined were 241 people. Their ages ranged from 65 or older and they were located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The participants suffered from chronic mechanical neck pain, and to be eligible, had to rate their pain a “3” on a 0-10 torment scale for three months or more. Additionally, the pain had to be joined by firmness or delicacy in the cervical spine.

When participants were chosen, they were relegated to one of the three treatment groups for a total of 12 weeks. The HEA-only group received 4 one-hour sessions in which they were told which activities would cause and how to them self-heal their pain. The HEA + SMT group received the same treatment, in addition to up to 20 sessions with a chiropractor. The HEA + SRE group also received four direction sessions, coupled with 20 one-hour sessions, improving upon exercises thanks to the advice from an exercise therapist.

The expenses of the treatments and their viability were monitored for one year, with data being calculated at the one, three, and six-month periods, in addition to the end of the study. According to the results, researchers determined that SMT and HEA together “resulted in the greatest reduction of neck pain and disability, and the most gains in QALYs” (quality-adjusted life years). Moreover, this joined treatment method was five percent less costly than HEA alone and 47 percent lower than SRE and HEA combined when considering both immediate and indirect expenses. In conclusion, chiropractic can be a part of a cost-effective, yet effective treatment plan for seniors who fall at or below the federal poverty level.