Chiropractors' Recommendations for Preventive Care in Low Back Pain
Author Information
Author(s): Iben Axén, Irene B Jensen, Andreas Eklund, Laszlo Halasz, Kristian Jørgensen, Fredrik Lange, Peter W Lövgren, Annika Rosenbaum, Charlotte Leboeuf-Yde
Primary Institution: The Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Hypothesis
A patient with no previous events of low back pain would not be a candidate for secondary prevention, whereas one with many previous episodes would be.
Conclusion
The vast majority of Swedish chiropractors believe that chiropractic treatment can prevent relapses of low back pain, with past frequency of the problem being a key factor in recommendations for secondary preventive care.
Supporting Evidence
- 98% of chiropractors believe chiropractic care can prevent future relapses of back pain.
- Two factors were considered 'very important' by over 70% of respondents for recommending secondary preventive care.
- For tertiary preventive care, a patient needs to improve by at least 75% before maintenance care is recommended.
Takeaway
Chiropractors think that if someone has had back pain before, they might need more help to stop it from coming back again.
Methodology
Structured focus group discussions followed by a questionnaire survey among Swedish chiropractors.
Potential Biases
Participants may have been more interested in the topic, leading to a non-representative sample.
Limitations
The study may not represent all chiropractors in Sweden due to potential selection bias in participation.
Participant Demographics
Chiropractors from the Swedish Chiropractors' Association, with varying years of clinical experience.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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