One of the greatest ironies of the recent pandemic is that state of the healthcare system in this country. At the same time that doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are being heralded as the most important frontline workers, the system which employees them is suffering perhaps more than any other industry. Without the ability to perform elective surgeries and procedures, there are many hospital systems that are literally going broke. At the same time that professionals that are needed to intubate patients and hook up and maintain life saving ventilators, the hospitals are laying off people who are unable to treat patients in clinics. Nursing, physical therapy, and chiropractic students who just two months ago were preparing to help be the next generation of caregivers now face uncertainly about when they will get the clinical and training time that they need to complete their degrees.
As the nation adjusts to more appointments being handled through telemedicine platforms, there remains a large segment of the population who are lingering at home, unable or unwilling to complete the therapy that they need to live their best lives. It is for all of these reasons, of course, that there are many who are considering the next steps that will be needed to move this nation and other parts of the world through the challenges of the current and future impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Tools Offer Many Patients a Way to Live a Fuller Life
As developers and engineers work to create digital physical assessment software platforms that can create online assessments and managers, it is important to note that there are many patients who will still need the physical presence of exercise therapists and chiropractic doctors to make the progress they need to live pain free. And while the use of physical assessment software may save doctors in all fields time, it is important to note that there is very often an in person advantage to seeing a healthcare provider. Whether you are a grandmother who is rehabing after hip surgery or you are an athlete trying to return to a sport after surgery, the online presence of even the best physical assessment software may not help you reach the level of success that you are looking for.
In a time when an overweight American population is facing more health complications than many previous generations, it is important to note that functional assessment tools, computerized range of motion testing equipment, and physical assessment software are just the beginnings of a process that requires real patient and doctor interaction if it is going to be effective.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the pain relieve and rehabilitation services that are most commonly needed by both physical therapy doctors and doctors of chiropractic care:
- Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide, and Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain.
- The job outlook for physical therapists is projected to increase 28% between the years 2016 and 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That percentage represents a number that is growing faster than the average growth rate of other occupations.
- The initial healthcare visit that you make, often controlled by the insurance coverage that is available, can determine the length and success of your follow up care. For instance, 56% of patients who saw a doctor, saw a 30% reduction in low back pain. This is compared to the 94% of patients who underwent treatment with a chiropractor and saw a 30% reduction in low back pain after just four weeks.
- With an additional 60,000 projected to be added to the workforce in coming years, there are approximately 200,000 physical therapists employed in the U.S. alone.
- The latest statistics indicate that chiropractors treat more than 27 million Americans every year, with a chiropractic adjustment being performed more than 1 million times every business day in the U.S.
- Worldwide, over 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain, which is defined as pain that persists for 12 weeks or longer.
- The latest research indicates that four out of 10 Americans will approach a chiropractor before a doctor when suffering from lower back pain.
