A new research review published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies suggests that patients with spine-related musculoskeletal pain who see a chiropractor first may have lower overall healthcare costs compared to those who receive initial medical management. Spine pain is a significant burden in the United States, with annual costs estimated at $134.5 billion. Patients with this condition have various treatment options, each with potentially different cost implications. This systematic review aimed to compare the costs associated with chiropractic care and medical management for spine pain.

The review found that patients who received chiropractic care as their initial treatment incurred substantially lower downstream healthcare costs, resulting in lower overall healthcare expenditures compared to those who received initial medical management. While the included studies were primarily observational, meaning they cannot establish cause-and-effect, the authors observed a consistent theme across the data suggesting potential cost benefits associated with starting with chiropractic care for spine pain.

“This research adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that chiropractic care can be a cost-effective option for managing spine-related pain,” said Ronald Farabaugh, lead author of the study.

This research has the potential to:
• Inform healthcare decision-making for patients with spine pain.
• Encourage further research into the cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care.
• Highlight the potential role of chiropractors in managing spine pain within the healthcare system.

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