Toronto (17 September 2015) – The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) urges the federal parties to recognize the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on the health and wellbeing of Canadians, specifically federal populations. Unfortunately, musculoskeletal conditions do not get the attention they deserve. These conditions that are among the most burdensome and taxing on Canadians and governments are considered non-critical but may lead to chronic pain and disability. In fact, more than 11 million Canadians are affected by back pain or other musculoskeletal conditions annually.1 It remains the number one cause of disability, and rivals cardiovascular disease in overall health burden. 2
Sustaining our healthcare system requires the kinds of innovations that deliver better outcomes at a lower cost, which includes enhancing access to conservative forms of pain management. There is a tremendous opportunity for chiropractors to help. Canada’s 9,000 licensed and regulated chiropractors are experts in musculoskeletal health and provide non-invasive, management of musculoskeletal conditions. The evidence and clinical practice guidelines support the use of conservative pain management, as first line intervention for many musculoskeletal conditions, including mechanical low back pain.
As Canada’s spine, muscle and nervous system experts experts, Canadian chiropractors can do more to help health dollars go further and relieve the pain for millions of Canadians. Doctors of chiropractic are extensively trained in the prevention, assessment, diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal conditions, and will recommend a course of treatment to help relieve pain and improve function without surgery or pharmaceuticals. Manual therapy has been shown to be effective, producing better outcomes related to cost, is non-invasive and safe (unless contraindicated).
The CCA urges all the federal parties to develop and support a clear agenda of federal leadership to improve access to care to improve musculoskeletal health services among federal populations. This comprehensive, strategic approach would take form in a shared plan of action and policies to address both the prevention and appropriate management of musculoskeletal conditions of Canadians. The benefits of a comprehensive musculoskeletal strategy would provide better coordination of services by incorporating best practices, promotion of prevention strategies, stronger engagement by Canadians in their own care, ability to set priorities for evidence-based care and technologies, enhanced health outcomes at a lower cost, the promotion of team-based care to improve communication and efficiency, and improved integration of community-based providers.
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The Canadian Chiropractic Association (CCA) is a national association representing 7,800 of Canada’s 9,000 licensed doctors of chiropractic. Approximately four and a half million Canadians use the services of a chiropractor each year. The CCA advocates on behalf of members and their patients to advance the quality and accessibility of chiropractic care in Canada, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the healthcare system. For more information on the CCA or for a referral to a doctor of chiropractic, please visit www.chiropractic.ca.
1 Building a Collective Policy Agenda for Musculoskeletal Health and Mobility; Canadian Orthopaedic Care Strategy Group backgrounder report. 2010.
2 Desjardins, D. (2006). Le fardeau de la maladie lié aux troubles musculosquelettiques au Canada. Prévention l’incapacité au travail : un symposium pour favoriser l’action concertée. Journées annuelles de la santé publique. Retrieved from https://jasp.inspq.qc.ca/Data/Sites/1/SharedFiles/presentations/2006/JASP2006-Incapacite-SDesjardins2.PDF