Treatments Available For Headaches and Neck Pain

2016: Chiropractic is Safe, Effective, Affordable Care

• Nearly 62 million U.S. adults (25%) went to a chiropractor in the last five years. More than half (35.5 million) said they went in the last 12 months—up slightly from the 33.6 million in last year’s survey.
• Three in four of those who saw a chiropractor in the last year (75%) described chiropractic care as “very effective.”
• 88% of recent chiropractic patients agreed the quality of care they received was a good value for the money they paid.

2017: Americans Prefer Drug-Free Pain Management Over Opioids

• 78% prefer to try other ways to address their physical pain before they take pain medication prescribed by a doctor.
• 27% of U.S. adults have seen a health-care professional for significant neck or back pain in the last 12 months. Of those adults, more than half (54%) have had an ongoing problem with neck or back pain for five years or more.
• Education about chiropractic care increases the likelihood people will go to a chiropractor, especially for Black patients and younger adults.

2018: Managing Neck and Back Pain in America

• 67% of Americans suffering from neck or back pain want to see a professional who treats neck or back pain using a variety of methods including prescription medication or surgery. Still, 79% of U.S. adults would prefer to try to address their neck or back pain using methods other than prescription medication or surgery first.
• Roughly nine out of 10 adults who saw a chiropractor most often for significant neck or back pain in the last 12 months say their chiropractor often listens (93%), provides convenient, quick access to care (93%), demonstrates care/compassion (91%) and explains things well (88%). Similar percentages exist for physical therapists.
• Adults who saw a medical doctor most often for neck or back pain are less likely to say their health care provider did these things – although majorities still do. Seventy-two percent say their medical doctor listens, 67% say their medical doctor explains things well, and 66% say they demonstrate care/compassion.
  

2020: The Case for Chiropractic: How Chiropractic Care Benefits Patients and Insurers

• Low-back pain is the No. 1 cause of disability worldwide and the top reason opioids are prescribed.
• UnitedHealthCare projects significant cost-savings for patients when they incorporate chiropractic care for back pain. Patients receiving 75% of care from a chiropractor result in a 23% reduction in cost savings; patients receiving 90% of care from a chiropractor result in a 52% reduction in cost.
• Incorporating chiropractic care is forecasted to result in a 22% decrease in the number of spinal imaging tests; 21% decrease in spinal surgeries and 19% decrease in opioid usage.
• Medicare patients drastically reduce annual costs with chiropractic care. Two million insurance subscribers report total annual health care costs to be 30-50% less with chiropractic care than with medical doctor-only care for back pain.