Chiropractic: less sick leave and more productivity in the company

The World Health Organization defines Chiropractic as the health science concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuro-musculo-skeletal system and their effects on general health. Chiropractic is based on manual techniques, the specific manual adjustment of vertebral subluxations being a unique feature of our profession.

Multiple scientific studies support its benefits in the treatment of migraines, headaches, neck pain, muscle tension, back pain, sciatica, sports injuries, etc. It is important to note that chiropractic is not limited to palliative care, but is very effective in both wellness and prevention of these conditions. 

Chiropractic in the world  

Chiropractic, with a minimum of 5,500 hours of education, is legally recognized and regulated in about 40 countries, thanks to the Councils of Chiropractic Education International (CCEI).

Indeed, the unqualified practice of chiropractic remains a major problem in some countries without regulatory legislation, such as Brazil, Korea, Japan or here in Spain, where its practice is exempt from VAT since April 2020 and, therefore, recognized as health care by the Treasury. On our website www.quiropracticofeliu.com you will find a file prepared by the Spanish Chiropractic Association that gathers multiple articles that confirm the scientific evidence related to the practice of chiropractic.  

It is becoming more and more common that not only elite athletes (Usain Bolt, Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan among many others), but also individuals and companies are using chiropractic to improve their quality of life and that of their workers, avoiding injuries and ailments, and improving their performance, productivity and job satisfaction.

Low back pain: one of the main causes of sick leave

A series of studies published by the prestigious journal The Lancet in March shed light on how we treat low back pain, which affects 80% of the adult population at some point in their lives, has an annual prevalence of about 15-45%, and is currently the leading cause of disability worldwide among people of working age.  

In addition, according to the latest report of the National Health System of the Ministry of Health (November 2020), disorders of the lumbar region are the cause of 25% of sick leave in Spain, information that contrasts with the figures of the Asociación de Mutuas de Accidentes de Trabajo – AMAT (Association of Mutual Insurance Companies for Accidents at Work).

Different types of back pain depending on the profession

Cervical and lumbar disorders occur in workers who perform both physical work (electricians, plumbers, mechanics, cleaning staff, healthcare personnel, among others) and clerical work (administrative staff, creatives, researchers, teachers, etc.) These conditions are related to ergonomic factors, but also to psychological factors such as work-related stress.

According to a study of 6,000 workers between the ages of 18 and 66, 50.5% of them experience neck and upper back pain and numbness on a regular, if not permanent, basis. And another recent study published in the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics shows that of the 164 bus drivers who participated in the study, 45% suffer at least one episode of low back pain per year.   
 
This serious problem also has a business cost. For example, the cost of a work-related injury involving neck pain is five times greater if the worker has to miss work than if he or she is able to continue working. For low back pain, the cost is up to three times higher.    
 
The economic impact of sick leave is shared between companies, mutual insurance companies and the Social Security, implying in 2018 in Spain a loss of 6% of annual GDP, equivalent to approximately 62,000 million euros.   
 
According to data provided by AMAT, the number of workers requesting sick leave is approximately 4.5 million, of which 880,000 do not go to work any day of the year.
 
Benefits of chiropractic care for businesses and workers
 
Chiropractic is making its way into the corporate world as a service to employees, having a significant impact on their overall health, improving their job satisfaction and therefore their performance and productivity, but also reducing sick leave, generating savings for companies. Large companies such as Google, Amazon and Apple have a team of chiropractors in their offices.
 
Susana Feliu
A study in Sweden concluded that the total annual cost for patients with chronic low back pain was estimated to be $19,500 per patient per year, of which 15% was clinical management and 85% was lost work days. This study concluded that by introducing chiropractic as an adjunctive treatment, recovery time is shortened and, as a result, the duration of sick leave is significantly reduced and, with it, economic expenditures.    
 
In 2016, a Canadian study compared, within a group of workers who received three different types of treatment, the economic compensation time and incidence of a second episode of low back pain. The study concluded that patients treated with chiropractic achieved positive outcomes at a lower cost, in a shorter time frame and with a lower likelihood of work disability one year after treatment.

If you would like more information on how chiropractic could help you, please contact us at +34 600 684 350 or any of the professionals at www.quiropractica-aeq.com

You can consult the complete article and bibliographic references at www.quiropracticofeliu.com