SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., March 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic pain is an
epidemic that affects an estimated 100 million Americans. Although
numerous effective treatments are available, millions of chronic
pain sufferers rely on prescription pain medication such as
hydrocodone or oxycodone for long-term pain management. While
effective for some, many long-term users continue to have moderate
to severe pain and diminished quality of life.
A September 2014 report by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests that a broader
approach which includes alternative medicine may be more effective.
The report stressed the need to use a range of progressive
treatment that might initially include non-drug related options,
such as physical therapy, behavioral therapy, and/or proven
alternative medicine approaches (such as chiropractic), later
followed by prescription medication if more needs to be done.
The American Chiropractic Association issued a statement in
January encouraging NIH to study all complementary and integrated
approaches to chronic pain management, including chiropractic,
because they offer a higher degree of patient safety and help to
reduce drug use, resulting in fewer side effects.
The NIH panel, made up of experts in the fields of gerontology,
rheumatology, internal medicine, psychiatry, addiction medicine,
nursing, health education, biostatistics, and epidemiology,
concluded that managing chronic pain requires an integrated
approach involving more than one specialty, including complementary
medicine (such as physical therapy and chiropractic care).
Integrated care may be more difficult to obtain than it would
first appear, however. The report identified several barriers
including insurance plans that may not cover integrated healthcare
approaches. Viable alternatives include private pay healthcare
providers such as The Joint Chiropractic, which offers a
'non-insurance' membership model that makes care convenient and
affordable. A misalignment of the spine can lead to aches and pains
that affect overall health and well-being. The spine protects the
nervous system, which controls and coordinates all the different
functions of the body. A spinal misalignment can lead to a host of
health problems ranging from neck and back pain to gastrointestinal
problems and even hyperkyphosis – a condition in which the spine
curvature is significantly exaggerated, with increased risk of
pulmonary and arterial health problems.
To learn more visit http://www.thejoint.com/health-benefits
About The Joint Corp. (NASDAQ: JYNT)
Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, The
Joint…the chiropractic place® is reinventing chiropractic care
by making quality alternative healthcare affordable for patients
seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness. Our membership plans and
packages eliminate the need for insurance, and our no-appointment
policy, convenient hours and locations make care more accessible.
The Joint performs more than one million spinal adjustments a year
across 250+ clinics nationwide. For more information,
visit www.thejoint.com, follow us
on Twitter @thejointchiro and find us
on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
Media Contact:
Marcia
Rhodes
Amendola Communications for The Joint Corp.
480-664-8412 X 15
mrhodes@acmarketingpr.com
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SOURCE The Joint Corp.