Evidence-Based Care
Why Doctors Send Us Their Patients:
Our office enjoys trusting relationships with local family doctors, PA’s, nurse practitioners, orthopedic surgeons, pain management doctors, and other healthcare specialists. We have earned their trust by demonstrating how well evidence-based chiropractic, physical and manual therapy works.
Physicians are concerned about the large degree of variance between chiropractors, in that some are practicing in a medical model, while others are providing a holistic or maintenance model. They have concerns regarding continuity of care, timely referral for more serious conditions and prolonged treatment plans.
At New Market Chiropractic, we work on a 2-4 week clinical trial basis, with timely, concise, medically-termed correspondence provided to all practitioners participating in that patient’s care. If the patient fails to meet clinical outcome goals, either the plan is changed, or appropriate referrals are made for diagnostic or clinical decision-making.
We do not perform any in-office x-ray or other diagnostic imaging. We do not routinely order x-ray on all patients, but instead use the same imaging guidelines used by medical physicians, in order to determine when imaging is appropriate. We are in-network, preferred providers with most all insurance plans, including most HMO products. We obtain any necessary pre-authorizations on behalf of our patients.
Selecting a Patient For Chiropractic Care
Patients who have failed medication trials and/or physical therapy, but still present with musculoskeletal complaints, are often good candidates for manual chiropractic therapy. Results are generally seen quickly, within the first clinical trial of 2 weeks. There are some “red flags” or contraindications to manual chiropractic manipulation. Screening for these takes place in every history and examination, regardless of patient age or health status. If there is any doubt, manipulation is not applied, and other manual therapies are substituted, or the patient is not accepted to a trial of therapy.
Short vs. Long Term Benefits
Long-term benefits of manual therapy are best attained when the patient is treated for a short period of time and then released with the tools to self-manage their problem, as it continues to heal.
That is, passive, manual mobilization/manipulation and modalities, are very useful in the early part of acute care but should be quickly transitioned to more active, self-directed means for maintaining mobilization and stabilizing surrounding structures.
At New Market Chiropractic, we train all of our patients in some level of self-directed care, including stretching, postural modification, spinal stabilization exercises, and sport or work-specific training. We use low-tech activities, which do not require extensive equipment or component of time. Results are more precise, and provide patients with the tools to self-manage their activities of daily living to their fullest potential.
