The use of chiropractic care by veterans has increased greatly over the years, which proves its efficacy in treating musculoskeletal issues.

1. Chiropractic Care – An Effective Pain
Management Option for Veterans
The use of chiropractic care by veterans has increased
greatly over the years, which proves its efficacy in
treating musculoskeletal issues.

2. An effective alternative for managing musculoskeletal pain and non-operative neuromuscular
conditions, the popularity of chiropractic treatment has soared in recent years with the efforts to
reduce opioid addiction. Recent reports indicate increased use of chiropractic services by veterans.
Susceptible to musculoskeletal and neurological injuries, veterans are benefiting from this
manipulation technique which restores joint mobility and relieves pain by promoting tissue healing.
How Chiropractic Care Works
Chiropractic care is based on the theory that the spine is closely linked to the nervous system. Spine
problems can arise from the soft tissues, nerves, or bone and affect the nervous system, causing
joint pain and affecting function and mobility. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques to correct
spinal misalignments, reduce pressure on the neurological tissues, relieve pain, and improve the
person’s health.
Spinal adjustment is used to treat a wide variety of conditions such as lower back pain, leg pain
(sciatica), muscle spasm, repetitive strains, headache, pinched nerves, sports injuries, pain from
accidents or injury, and arthritic pain. By restoring spinal mobility, the treatment addresses the
irritation to the spinal nerve and restores normalcy to the damaged reflexes.
Besides spinal manipulation, chiropractors utilize other non-surgical therapies to treat patients with
spinal problems. These include heat and ice application, exercise, massage, and lifestyle counseling.
Veterans’ Use of Chiropractic Services is Increasing, says Study
According to a new study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics
(JMPT), the official scientific journal of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the use of
chiropractic services by veterans has risen considerably over the years. The researchers found that
the annual number of patients seen in VA chiropractic clinics increased by 821 percent between
2004 and 2015. Besides the natural growth of chiropractic service since it was implemented onsite
in the Department of Veteran Affairs, the study suggests that this positive trend could be the result
of the successful performance of VA chiropractors as well as the perceived value of their care by
decision-makers.
The high prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions and neurological issues among veterans is
attributed to the rigorous nature of their military duties and operations in war-torn countries. A
Seattle Times article reported that just walking and wearing heavy gear causes a variety of
musculoskeletal injuries in veterans.
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3. Chiropractic Treatment – A Safe Alternative to Opioid Use
With the opioid epidemic gaining alarming proportions, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM)
have called for a shift away from opioid use toward non-pharmacologic acute and chronic pain
management approaches. This is where chiropractic treatment scores. Safe and effective, this
drug-free approach is proving to be a cost-effective option to relieve neuro-musculoskeletal pain,
improve mobility and function, restore health, and prevent disease. Chiropractic services are
available in leading multispecialty health care centers in New York.
(718) 769-2521