The collateral benefits of having chiropractic available in a public central hospital

Abstract

Following previous reports on the co-operation between a chiropractor and a central hospital, experiences from the past five years are presented. The objective of this paper is to show that improved management of muscular and skeletal problems within a hospital setting depends on the availability of chiropractic health care as a treatment option. The following pain groups were sampled: 1) sacro-lumbar dysfunction and sciatic leg symptoms, with or without joint dysfunction and sciatica; 2) myo-fascial referred pain syndromes, frequently caused by peripheral nerve entrapment; and 3) tinnitus, dizziness/vertigo, facial pain, ear plug and swallowing difficulties, frequently caused by biomechanical components. A majority of pain patients, after being subjected to traditional conservative treatment, usually over a period of several years, fail to return to work despite younger than average age. The only effective procedures seem to be those of chiropractors. In order to benefit from their particular knowledge, public hospitals need to open their doors to chiropractors. For that to happen, determined hospital administrators are needed.