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Table 3

Expectations for medical and chiropractic treatment of low back pain

 
MD clinic (n = 8)
DC clinic (n = 6)
Senior center (n = 12)
Senior housing (n = 22)
Medical treatments for LBP
M
M
D1
D
C
C
C
H
H
H
 1212123123
Pain relief expected
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Prescription medicine suggested
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
X-ray or diagnostic tests performed
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Self-care/exercise recommendations
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
Referral to specialist or pain clinic
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Surgery or injection recommendation
✓
 
 
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Referral to doctor of chiropractic
✓
✓
 
✓
 
 
✓
✓
✓
 
Chiropractic treatments for LBP
M
M
D
D
C
C
C
H
H
H
 
1
2
1
2
1
2
3
1
2
3
Pain relief expected
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Hands-on treatment/adjustment given
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Treatment of the cause of LBP problem
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Loosen up joints/maintain mobility
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
 
 
Other modalities (TENS, instruments)
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
X-ray or diagnostic tests performed
 
 
 
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Chiropractic maintenance care helps
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
Adjustment provides short-term relief
✓
✓
 
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
✓
 
Treatment approaches vary by DC
✓
✓
✓
 
 
✓
 
✓
✓
✓
Referral to medical doctor
✓
✓
 
 
 
 
 
✓
✓
✓
Self-care/exercise recommendations ✓ ✓ ✓✓   
MD = Medical Doctor.

DC = Doctor of Chiropractic.

LBP = Low back pain.

M# = Medical clinic focus group 1 or 2.

D# = Chiropractic clinic focus group 1 or 2.

C# = Senior center focus group 1, 2 or 3.

H# = Senior housing focus group 1, 2 or 3.

TENS = Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.