Patient Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes Associated With Conservative Treatment for Spine Pain in Women Experiencing Socioeconomic Challenges

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe patient demographics and pain changes for women over the course of care in a chiropractic program.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of a prospective quality assurance database from the Mount Carmel Clinic (MCC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Pain scores were reported on an 11-point Numeric Rating Scale. Baseline and discharge Numeric Rating Scale scores were compared for each spinal and extremity region through Wilcoxon signed rank tests to determine if clinically meaningful or statistically significant differences were present.

Results: The sample population attained was 348 primarily middle-aged (mean = 43.0, SD = 14.96) women with obesity (body mass index = 31.3 kg/m², SD = 7.89) referred to the MCC chiropractic program by their primary care physician (65.2%) for an average of 15.6 (SD = 18.49) treatments. Clinically meaningful median baseline to discharge changes in pain by spine region were observed (Cervical = -2, Thoracic = -2, Lumbar = -3, Sacroiliac = -3), each of which yielded statistical significance (P < .001).

Conclusion: This retrospective analysis found that the MCC chiropractic program serves middle-aged women with obesity experiencing socioeconomic challenges. Pain reductions were reported, regardless of the region of complaint, temporally associated with a course of chiropractic care.

Keywords: Back Pain; Chiropractic; Conservative Treatment; Spine; Vulnerable Populations; Women's Health.