Chronic pain is more than just a nuisance. It can make your entire life grind to a screeching halt.
It’s something you realize when getting out of bed in the morning. The ache in your wrists, the stiffness in your back? They’re all small ingredients that add up to a bigger picture. Chronic pain conditions all but rule Americans today, dictating how they work and how they sleep. When you work in the physical therapy industry, just one tool can mean the difference between a happy patient and a despondent one.
How did chronic pain conditions get so bad? What can you do to ease your patients’ pain? Chiropractic adjusting tools are your metaphorical Swiss army knife for today’s worst issues.
Chronic Pain Affects Billions…And It’s Getting Worse
As a physical therapist you’re more than aware of how many forms chronic pain can take. It can start off as a minor issue in the shoulder that blooms into full-blown agony through neglect. It can be caused by car whiplash or the simple onset of age. Over one and a half billion people around the world suffer from chronic pain — lower back pain, specifically, is the single leading cause of disability. Physical therapy, as a result, is seeing a surge of new applicants.
The Physical Therapy Industry Is Seeing Booming Statistics
One way or another, Americans need relief from chronic pain. When popping painkillers and using heating pads isn’t enough, they’ll seek out help from a nearby clinic. It’s estimated chiropractors treat over 25 million Americans every year — four out of 10 Americans will approach a chiropractor before a doctor when suffering lower back pain. There are 200,000 physical therapists employed in the country currently. An additional 60,000 are expected to crop up in the workforce by 2025.
Seeking Out Back Pain Early Saves Patients And Physicians Money
One of the best things about physical therapy is its cumulative effect. Not only is it proven to reduce pain and improve mobility, it also saves money. Of the 55% of patients who visit a doctor, pain is reduced by 30% on average. Of the 95% of patients who see a chiropractor, on the other hand, see a 30% pain reduction…and less costs. It’s estimated Medicare can save $85 million annually by putting precedence on chiropractors.
Physical Assessment Software Is A Boon To Any Office
The best way to treat patients is as quickly as possible. This means getting them in before the pain reaches extreme levels and getting them assessed. Physical assessment software is crafted to record essential patient information — their chronic pain conditions, the severity, the locations, their progress, and any lifestyle/diet details. This makes transfers between physicians quicker and makes sure they’re never losing vital recovery time. Range of motion data can also be recorded on-the-fly for extra convenience.
Chiropractic Adjusting Equipment Always Needs Improvement
Technology moves at the speed of light. Physical therapy tools are no different. The human body is home to more than 650 muscles, all working in conjunction to provide a seamless experience. When one muscle suffers, the rest of the body has no choice but to overwork itself to compensate. Physical therapy tools range from an automatic strength test to the complex back adjustment tool. Keep a close eye on the market to see which ones are seeing preference among today’s professionals.
Chronic pain isn’t easy to live with. Thankfully, it’s relatively easy to treat. Make sure your tools are up to the task.
