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Table 3 Expectations for medical and chiropractic treatment of low back pain

From: Perspectives of older adults on co-management of low back pain by doctors of chiropractic and family medicine physicians: a focus group study

 

MD clinic (n = 8)

DC clinic (n = 6)

Senior center (n = 12)

Senior housing (n = 22)

Medical treatments for LBP

M

M

D1

D

C

C

C

H

H

H

 

1

2

1

2

1

2

3

1

2

3

Pain relief expected

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Prescription medicine suggested

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

X-ray or diagnostic tests performed

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Self-care/exercise recommendations

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

Referral to specialist or pain clinic

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Surgery or injection recommendation

✓

   

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Referral to doctor of chiropractic

✓

✓

 

✓

  

✓

✓

✓

 

Chiropractic treatments for LBP

M

M

D

D

C

C

C

H

H

H

 

1

2

1

2

1

2

3

1

2

3

Pain relief expected

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Hands-on treatment/adjustment given

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Treatment of the cause of LBP problem

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Loosen up joints/maintain mobility

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

  

Other modalities (TENS, instruments)

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

X-ray or diagnostic tests performed

   

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Chiropractic maintenance care helps

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Adjustment provides short-term relief

✓

✓

 

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

✓

 

Treatment approaches vary by DC

✓

✓

✓

  

✓

 

✓

✓

✓

Referral to medical doctor

✓

✓

     

✓

✓

✓

Self-care/exercise recommendations

 

✓

 

✓

 

✓

✓

   
  1. MD = Medical Doctor.
  2. DC = Doctor of Chiropractic.
  3. LBP = Low back pain.
  4. M# = Medical clinic focus group 1 or 2.
  5. D# = Chiropractic clinic focus group 1 or 2.
  6. C# = Senior center focus group 1, 2 or 3.
  7. H# = Senior housing focus group 1, 2 or 3.
  8. TENS = Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.