Chiropractic Care Services in Edwardsville IL Explained

Dr. Ryan
November 19, 2025

Table of Contents

Edwardsville, IL Chiropractic Services: Your Complete Guide to Pain Relief and Wellness

Chiropractic care is all about pinpointing and non-surgically treating issues within your musculoskeletal and nervous systems, with a special focus on your spine, joints, and the surrounding soft tissues. This guide dives into how chiropractic adjustments and spinal correction can boost nerve function and biomechanics, helping you ditch pain, regain movement, and embrace lasting wellness right here in Edwardsville and nearby areas. If you’re in Edwardsville and looking for alternatives to medication for back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or joint problems, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through the science-backed ways it works, the techniques used, how often you might need to visit, and what to expect at your first appointment. You’ll discover how a properly aligned spine impacts nerve signals, which conditions benefit most from this approach, the advanced methods local chiropractors use, and how integrated services can supercharge your recovery. We’ll cover: what chiropractic care is and how it functions, common issues it tackles, the cutting-edge techniques available locally, why choosing a local clinic makes sense, recommended visit schedules, safety and advantages, and the typical patient journey from start to finish. We’re using keywords like “chiropractic care services Edwardsville, IL,” “spinal correction Edwardsville, IL,” and “sciatica treatment Edwardsville” to make sure you find us when you need us.

What Exactly Is Chiropractic Care and How Does It Work in Edwardsville?

In Edwardsville, chiropractic care hones in on aligning your spine to ease nerve irritation and get your joints moving smoothly again, ultimately cutting down on pain and boosting your overall function. The magic happens through biomechanical correction—think spinal adjustments—and neuromodulation, where better joint movement dials down pain signals and helps your nervous system keep your tissues in top shape. You’ll often feel a difference in joint mobility right away, and with a series of treatments targeting the root cause, not just the symptoms, you’ll see progressive relief from muscle tightness and pain. Understanding these principles will help you make informed choices about manual adjustments, instrument-assisted techniques, and the integrated therapies you can find locally.

What Are the Foundational Principles of Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is built on three key pillars: structural alignment, optimizing your nervous system, and functional rehabilitation. Structural alignment means getting your joints back into their proper position and moving freely to reduce stress on surrounding tissues, which directly impacts how your nerves function and how you perceive pain. Nervous system optimization highlights how better joint mechanics reduce nerve irritation, allowing your brain to better coordinate muscles and reflexes for improved posture and movement. Functional rehabilitation combines these corrective techniques with exercises, posture training, and advice on your daily environment to keep your improvements going and prevent issues from coming back. These principles focus on tackling the source of the problem and enhancing your overall ability to function, naturally leading to how specific adjustments can bring you pain relief.

How Do Spinal Adjustments and Corrections Actually Relieve Pain?

Spinal adjustments and corrections work to relieve pain by restoring normal joint movement, calming down local inflammation, and easing pressure on irritated nerves, leading to both immediate and lasting benefits. When a joint that’s not moving right starts moving properly again, surrounding muscles tend to relax, inflammatory markers decrease, and nerve signals normalize. This can significantly reduce radiating symptoms like sciatica or localized back pain. You’ll often notice less stiffness and a better range of motion after an adjustment, and with ongoing care, you can achieve longer-term structural and functional improvements. Safety is paramount, which is why a thorough assessment and personalized technique selection are always the first steps, naturally leading to how holistic approaches offer unique benefits locally.

What Sets Holistic Chiropractic Care Apart in Edwardsville?

Holistic chiropractic care in the Edwardsville area goes beyond just spinal alignment. It weaves in lifestyle advice, nutritional guidance, and supportive therapies to tackle all the factors influencing your recovery and long-term health. Unlike visits focused solely on one symptom, holistic care combines hands-on adjustments with personalized exercise plans, ergonomic recommendations, and, when needed, other complementary services to support your healing journey and prevent future problems. This approach recognizes that your overall health—including sleep, metabolism, and activity levels—plays a huge role in how your body’s musculoskeletal system performs. It creates customized plans that align with your personal health goals. Highlighting these integrated services sets the stage for understanding the specific conditions that chiropractic care can effectively manage.

What Common Conditions Does Chiropractic Care Address in Edwardsville?

Chiropractic care is equipped to handle a wide range of musculoskeletal and nerve-related issues that are common in Edwardsville. This includes everything from low back pain, neck pain, and sciatica to herniated discs, headaches, and joint pain in your shoulders, hips, knees, and feet. Our approach combines assessments, targeted adjustments, soft-tissue therapies, and exercises designed to reduce pain, restore function, and improve your daily performance. Current clinical thinking often points to non-surgical, conservative management as the go-to first step for many of these conditions, and chiropractors work closely with other healthcare providers when imaging or referrals are necessary. The table below outlines typical chiropractic strategies and what you can expect for common conditions seen in local practices.

Condition	Chiropractic Approach	Expected Outcome / Benefit
Low Back Pain	Lumbar spinal adjustments, mobilization, and rehab exercises	Reduced pain, improved mobility, and non-surgical recovery
Neck Pain	Cervical adjustments, posture correction, soft-tissue release	Improved range of motion, fewer headaches, reduced stiffness
Sciatica / Nerve Pain	Targeted decompression, adjustments to lumbar/sacroiliac segments	Decreased nerve irritation, reduced radicular symptoms
Herniated Disc	Conservative corrective protocols, traction when indicated	Symptom relief, improved function, and surgical avoidance in many cases
Joint Pain (shoulder, knee)	Joint mobilization, soft tissue work, functional rehab	Improved joint function, decreased pain, better mobility

How Does Chiropractic Care Help Relieve Back Pain in Edwardsville?

When it comes to back pain in Edwardsville, chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper movement in your lumbar spine, easing muscle tension, and enhancing core stability to support your spine’s health. Adjustments can improve joint mobility, which helps distribute pressure more evenly across your discs and facet joints, while complementary therapies like soft-tissue mobilization and therapeutic exercises address muscle imbalances that contribute to pain. Many patients find significant symptom relief quickly, followed by a structured rehabilitation phase aimed at strengthening and retraining movement patterns to prevent the pain from returning. A typical non-surgical plan balances immediate symptom relief with long-term corrective strategies and patient education.

What Are the Chiropractic Solutions for Neck Pain Treatment in Edwardsville?

Treating neck pain involves precise adjustments to the cervical spine, correction of the thoracic spine, and targeted soft-tissue work to address joint restrictions and postural issues. Cervical adjustments can free up stiff joints and help alleviate headaches originating from the neck, while mobilizing the thoracic spine supports overall spinal mechanics and reduces strain elsewhere. Chiropractors often recommend posture correction techniques and exercises to solidify improvements and prevent chronic issues. Safety is a top priority, achieved through careful screening and selecting techniques that best suit your health status and specific symptoms.

How Is Sciatica and Nerve Pain Managed Through Chiropractic Care?

Sciatica and nerve pain are managed by identifying the mechanical factors contributing to nerve root irritation and applying techniques that reduce pressure and inflammation around the affected nerve. Strategies include adjustments to the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints, decompression techniques, and rehabilitation exercises designed to decrease nerve tension and improve pelvic alignment. Clinical decisions are guided by screening for “red flag” symptoms, and when necessary, coordination with imaging or medical referrals ensures you receive the most appropriate care. The ultimate goal is to reduce radiating pain while restoring proper spinal mechanics and your ability to function.

Can Chiropractic Care Alleviate Joint Pain and Herniated Discs?

Chiropractic management for joint pain and herniated discs centers on conservative methods aimed at pain relief and function restoration. This includes joint mobilization, corrective spinal protocols, and progressive rehabilitation. Many cases of herniated discs respond well to non-surgical care through decompression strategies and stabilization exercises that reduce pressure on the disc and improve biomechanics. Clear guidelines are in place for when imaging or surgical consultation might be necessary, ensuring patient safety and timely escalation if conservative care isn’t sufficient. This conservative-first approach offers a practical alternative for many individuals seeking non-surgical back pain relief in Edwardsville.

How Does Chiropractic Care Address Headaches and Migraines?

Chiropractic care targets headaches stemming from the neck (cervicogenic) and tension-type headaches by correcting issues in the upper cervical spine, releasing tight muscle trigger points, and addressing postural stressors that can refer pain to the head. Adjustments to the upper cervical spine can restore normal joint movement and reduce pain signals contributing to headache frequency, while soft-tissue therapy helps relieve muscle tension. Patient education on ergonomics, sleep posture, and stress management complements hands-on treatment. For those experiencing migraines, chiropractic strategies can be a valuable part of a broader plan that includes lifestyle adjustments and trigger management.

What Advanced Chiropractic Techniques Are Available at Local Clinics in Edwardsville?

Advanced chiropractic techniques combine traditional manual adjustments with instrument-assisted methods and specialized spinal correction protocols, all tailored to your unique biomechanics and specific symptoms. These techniques include precise spinal correction protocols designed to address alignment and structure, manual manipulation for joint mobility, instrument-assisted approaches for enhanced patient comfort and targeted force application, and decompression strategies for nerve-related conditions. Advanced practitioners select methods based on clinical findings, your preferences, and treatment objectives to ensure maximum safety and effectiveness. Clinics serving Edwardsville often integrate these techniques into personalized plans to optimize your results.

What Is a Spinal Adjustment and How Is It Performed?

A spinal adjustment is a carefully controlled, precise thrust or mobilization applied to a spinal joint to restore normal motion and reduce nerve irritation. It’s performed only after a thorough assessment of your joint mechanics and medical history. The chiropractor positions you to isolate the specific joint that needs attention and applies a controlled force—either manually or with an instrument—while carefully monitoring your comfort and response. You might feel a sense of release, notice reduced stiffness, or experience improved range of motion after an adjustment. Some people might feel a bit sore temporarily, but this usually resolves quickly. Safety is ensured through appropriate screening, technique selection, and guidance on aftercare, which often includes exercises and activity modifications to help maintain the improvements.

Which Spinal Correction Methods Are Used for Pain Relief?

Spinal correction methods range from quick adjustments for immediate symptom relief to more comprehensive, long-term corrective care plans focused on improving your structure and posture. Corrective protocols involve a series of progressive adjustments combined with rehabilitation exercises, traction when appropriate, and postural retraining to achieve measurable improvements in alignment over several weeks or months. The specific approach depends on the severity and duration of your condition; acute issues might respond quickly to focused adjustments, while structural imbalances often require a structured series of visits. Progress is carefully tracked using objective measures like range of motion, pain levels, and functional assessments.

This table outlines common chiropractic techniques, how each works, and typical conditions they address.

Technique	How It Works (Mechanism)	Typical Indications
Manual Spinal Adjustment	Applied thrust to restore joint motion and reduce nociception	Joint fixation, acute back/neck pain
Instrument-Assisted Manipulation	Low-force mechanical stimulus for targeted correction	Sensitive patients, cervical care, pediatrics
Spinal Correction Protocols	Repeated corrective adjustments + rehab to realign structure	Chronic postural issues, recurrent pain
Decompression Therapy	Mechanical traction to reduce disc pressure and nerve root load	Radiculopathy, herniated discs

How Do Instrument-Assisted and Manual Manipulations Differ?

Instrument-assisted manipulation utilizes a specialized device to deliver precise, low-force impulses to a joint, whereas manual manipulation relies on the chiropractor’s hands to apply a high- or low-velocity mobilization tailored to your specific needs. Instrument-assisted methods can enhance patient comfort, reduce apprehension, and allow for very precise force control, making them ideal for sensitive areas or patients who are less comfortable with manual thrusts. Manual techniques provide valuable tactile feedback and can address complex biomechanical patterns with variable force and direction. The choice between these approaches depends on your preferences, the clinical findings, and your recovery goals.

What Role Do Personalized Treatment Plans Play in Chiropractic Care?

Personalized treatment plans transform assessment findings into a structured approach that combines adjustments, soft-tissue work, rehabilitation exercises, and lifestyle advice to help you reach your health goals efficiently. These plans outline strategies for short-term symptom relief, intermediate corrective care, and long-term maintenance, complete with measurable milestones such as improvements in pain scores, range of motion, and functional abilities. Regular reassessments allow for adjustments to the plan, ensuring you’re making progress toward your defined outcomes while avoiding unnecessary visits. Clear planning boosts adherence and helps you understand the path from initial relief to sustained well-being.

Why Choose a Local Clinic for Chiropractic Care in Edwardsville, IL?

Local clinics in Edwardsville, such as Family Health and Wellness Chiropractic, Chiro One Chiropractic & Wellness Center, and Performance Chiro Edwardsville, provide comprehensive chiropractic services designed specifically for the needs of our community. These clinics offer a range of services, including spinal adjustments, rehabilitation exercises, and holistic wellness programs, all aimed at helping you achieve your optimal health and wellness goals.

What Expertise and Experience Do Local Clinics Offer?

Local clinics pride themselves on employing advanced spinal correction techniques and focusing on chiropractic adjustments to alleviate stiffness, spasms, muscle strain, sciatica, and herniated discs affecting areas like the neck, shoulders, back, hips, knees, and feet. The practice emphasizes thorough assessment-driven care and integrates multiple therapeutic methods to create treatment plans customized to each patient’s specific condition and objectives. By blending corrective techniques with rehabilitation and patient education, the clinic supports progressive recovery and long-term functional improvement. Understanding the range of services offered helps patients set realistic expectations and choose the most suitable care path.

How Do Local Clinics Integrate Holistic Wellness with Chiropractic?

Local clinics enhance chiropractic care by integrating complementary services—such as hormone therapy, medical weight loss, and regenerative aesthetics—to address systemic factors influencing musculoskeletal health and individual wellness goals. For patients whose recovery is impacted by metabolic health, body composition, or hormonal changes, coordinated services can boost energy levels, improve tissue healing, and enhance functional capacity when combined with corrective spinal care. Cross-referrals and collaborative treatment planning allow clinicians to align interventions for faster, more lasting results while maintaining a conservative-first approach. This integration supports broader health objectives beyond immediate pain relief.

What Patient Success Stories Highlight the Effectiveness of Care?

Anonymized case examples demonstrate how condition-specific plans can lead to significant improvements. For instance, a patient experiencing lumbar radiculopathy underwent targeted decompression and corrective adjustments, reporting reduced leg pain and improved walking ability within weeks. Another example involves an individual with chronic neck pain who combined cervical corrections with rehabilitative exercises to regain daily function and decrease headache frequency. These illustrative outcomes showcase how personalized care sequences result in measurable progress in pain levels and activity tolerance. Such examples underscore the tangible benefits of integrated, assessment-driven chiropractic care within a local setting.

How Can You Schedule a Chiropractic Consultation at a Local Clinic?

To book a consultation or learn more about our services, you can contact local clinics directly. For example, Family Health and Wellness Chiropractic is located at 8 Ginger Creek Pkwy, Glen Carbon, IL 62034, and can be reached at (618) 391-0202. When you schedule, be ready to describe your main symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and any relevant medical history so the clinic can guide you on the initial evaluation steps. After booking, expect an intake process that includes a detailed history, a physical examination, and a recommended care plan tailored to your specific goals and clinical findings. Clear scheduling instructions and preparation make it easier to access conservative, evidence-based care.

How Often Should You See a Chiropractor in Edwardsville for Optimal Results?

The frequency of your visits will depend on the nature of your condition—how acute or severe it is, your personal health goals, and how well you respond to treatment. Typically, visits might be several times a week during the acute phase, tapering down to monthly or quarterly for long-term wellness maintenance. Acute injuries often require intensive short-term care to manage pain and restore function, while chronic or structural issues benefit from a phased program that progresses from correction to stabilization and maintenance. Your chiropractor will use objective measures like pain scales, range of motion, and functional tests to guide adjustments in visit frequency and tapering schedules. Understanding these factors will help you set realistic expectations and commit to an effective recovery timeline.

What Factors Influence Chiropractic Visit Frequency?

Key factors influencing how often you need to see a chiropractor include the severity and duration of your symptoms, your functional goals, any existing health conditions, and how quickly you improve with treatment. For example, acute radiating pain might require more frequent visits initially to quickly reduce nerve irritation, while milder postural pain may respond well to less intensive protocols combined with home exercises. Your motivation and consistency with exercises and ergonomic adjustments also play a role in how quickly visit frequency can decrease to maintenance levels. Open communication about expected timelines helps you plan and encourages adherence to your prescribed regimen.

This table provides a general guideline for visit frequency based on common patient factors, helping to set expectations for both short-term and long-term care.

Factor	Short-term Frequency	Long-term Frequency / Maintenance
Acute severe pain	2–3 visits per week for 2–4 weeks	Transition to 1–2 visits per month
Moderate subacute symptoms	1–2 visits per week for 4–6 weeks	Biweekly to monthly as needed
Chronic structural issues	Weekly to biweekly during the correction phase	Monthly to quarterly maintenance
Post-operative rehabilitation (non-surgical candidates)	Customized, often weekly	As directed by progress and goals

How Does Ongoing Care Support Long-Term Wellness?

Ongoing care helps maintain long-term wellness by reinforcing structural improvements, preserving joint mobility, and preventing flare-ups through periodic adjustments, targeted exercises, and lifestyle coaching. Maintenance visits focus on identifying subtle biomechanical shifts early and making timely corrections to avoid symptom recurrence. Combining regular chiropractic care with a home exercise program and ergonomic guidance helps sustain function and can reduce the need for medications or more invasive procedures. This proactive, preventive approach aligns with broader wellness objectives and empowers you to manage future health challenges effectively.

When Should You Seek Immediate Chiropractic Attention?

You should seek immediate attention or an expedited evaluation if you experience “red flag” symptoms such as sudden weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, worsening neurological deficits, severe and unrelenting pain, or a traumatic injury that significantly impacts your mobility. These signs require urgent assessment and may necessitate imaging or a medical referral to rule out serious underlying conditions. For rapidly deteriorating neurological symptoms or severe traumatic events, contact emergency services or your healthcare provider immediately. Recognizing these red flags ensures timely escalation and safe, coordinated patient care.

What Are the Benefits and Safety Considerations of Chiropractic Care in Edwardsville?

Chiropractic care offers numerous benefits, including significant pain reduction, improved mobility, enhanced function, and a drug-free approach to musculoskeletal conditions, all centered on individualized assessment and conservative management. Current research through 2025 supports the general safety of spinal adjustments for carefully screened adults, with practitioners adhering to strict contraindication protocols and adapting techniques to minimize any potential risks. When compared to medications and invasive procedures, chiropractic care stands out as a low-risk, conservative first-line option for many spine-related issues. It’s important to discuss your individual risks and benefits with your chiropractor to ensure safe and effective treatment.

What Are the Top Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments?

Chiropractic adjustments provide a combination of immediate and long-term advantages: rapid relief from localized pain and stiffness, enhanced joint mobility and function, and for many patients, a reduced reliance on pain medications. Adjustments can also help decrease muscle spasms and normalize movement patterns, allowing you to engage more effectively in rehabilitation exercises and daily activities. Evidence-based practice focuses on measurable outcomes—such as improvements in pain scales, range of motion, and functional capacity—to demonstrate clinical benefits. These advantages make chiropractic care a key component of non-surgical back pain treatment in Edwardsville.

The primary benefits of chiropractic adjustments include:

Reduced pain and discomfort in affected joints and muscles.
Improved range of motion and functional movement.
Non-pharmacological symptom management that supports rehabilitation.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Adults Aged 30-65+?

Chiropractic care is generally considered safe for adults aged 30-65+ when practitioners conduct appropriate screenings and select techniques that align with the patient’s health status. Adverse events are rare and typically mild. Standard safety practices involve reviewing your medical history, identifying any contraindications (such as certain vascular or inflammatory conditions), and modifying techniques or using instrument-assisted methods for more sensitive patients. Chiropractors also coordinate with medical providers when imaging or further evaluation is needed. This safety-first approach allows many adults to benefit from conservative spinal care with a low risk of complications.

How Does Chiropractic Care Compare to Other Pain Management Options?

For many musculoskeletal conditions, chiropractic care offers a conservative, low-risk alternative compared to medications and some invasive interventions. It focuses on correcting mechanical issues and restoring function. While medications can provide quick symptom relief, they often don’t address the underlying biomechanical problems and come with potential side effects; physical therapy shares rehabilitative goals but differs in its primary techniques and scope. In some situations, an integrated approach involving chiropractic care, physical therapy, and medical interventions yields the best results. Your chiropractor will help you weigh the benefits and risks to determine when combined or escalated care is appropriate.

What Should You Expect During Your First Chiropractic Visit in Edwardsville?

Your initial chiropractic visit typically includes a thorough consultation, a comprehensive physical examination, and a clear discussion of the findings, leading to a recommended care plan that may include your first treatment. This first appointment focuses on gathering your medical history, understanding your symptoms, and assessing your functional abilities to identify any biomechanical issues and screen for red flags. If necessary, your chiropractor might order imaging or arrange referrals before treatment; otherwise, you’ll often receive targeted manual therapy or an instrument-assisted adjustment during this first session. Open communication about your goals, expected timelines, and home-care strategies helps you transition smoothly from assessment to active recovery.

How Is the Initial Consultation Conducted?

The initial consultation involves gathering your medical history, details about when your symptoms started and how they progress, previous treatments you’ve undergone, and any limitations in your daily activities. This information helps build a clinical picture that guides the physical examination and any diagnostic decisions. Your chiropractor will ask specific questions about the nature of your pain, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your activities, while also screening for any systemic or neurological red flags. Objective tests—such as posture analysis, range of motion assessments, orthopedic provocation tests, and neurological screenings—help pinpoint the source of the dysfunction and determine the most appropriate treatment. This systematic approach ensures that subsequent treatment choices are targeted and safe, leading to what a typical treatment session will involve.

What Does a Typical Chiropractic Treatment Session Involve?

A typical treatment session begins with a brief check-in to reassess your condition, followed by soft-tissue warm-up or mobilization techniques. Then comes the chosen adjustment or instrument-assisted procedure, concluding with prescribed rehabilitative exercises and advice for home care. Adjunctive therapies, such as trigger-point therapy or therapeutic stretching, are often used alongside adjustments to enhance results and comfort. Sessions wrap up with clear instructions on activities to avoid and exercises to reinforce the benefits, and your chiropractor will document your progress to guide future visit frequency. This structured session sequence supports measurable progress and forms the basis for ongoing plan adjustments.

How Are Treatment Plans Developed and Monitored?

Treatment plans are created by combining your clinical findings with your personal health goals, forming a phased strategy with clear, measurable milestones. These milestones might include reductions in pain scores, improvements in range of motion, and functional benchmarks. Your chiropractor monitors your progress through regular reassessments and objective measures, adjusting techniques, visit frequency, and home programs as needed to optimize your response. Setting clear goals together and tracking outcomes helps you understand your progress and the reasoning behind treatment decisions. This ongoing, collaborative process ensures that your care remains focused, efficient, and aligned with your long-term wellness objectives.

What Are Common Patient Questions About Chiropractic Care?

Patients frequently inquire about safety, the expected timeline for improvement, whether adjustments are painful, and how chiropractic care compares to other treatment options. The answers emphasize individualized assessments, gradual, measurable progress, and conservative-first strategies. Providers explain that adjustments are generally comfortable, that some temporary soreness might occur, and that many patients notice improvements within weeks, with optimal benefits typically achieved over a structured course of care. Cost and scheduling questions are handled by clinic staff when you book your appointment, while clinical questions are addressed by the chiropractor during your consultation. Clear answers help patients make informed decisions about pursuing conservative chiropractic care.

What is chiropractic care? It’s a non-surgical approach focused on spinal and joint mechanics to reduce pain and restore function.
Will an adjustment hurt? Most patients find adjustments comfortable; some may experience brief soreness that resolves quickly.
How long until I see improvement? Many report symptom relief within weeks, with optimal gains achieved over a planned course of care.

Chiropractic Care for Chronic Pain: An Integrated Health Plan Study

Americans seek CAM treatments far more often for chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) than for any other condition. Among CAM treatments for CMP, acupuncture and chiropractic (A/C) care are among those with the highest acceptance by physician groups and the best evidence to support their use. Further, recent alarming increases in delivery of opioid treatment and surgical interventions for chronic pain–despite their high costs, potential adverse effects, and modest efficacy–suggests the need to evaluate real world outcomes associated with promising non-pharmacological/non-surgical CAM treatments for CMP, which are often well accepted by patients and increasingly used in the community.

2. This multi-phase, mixed methods study will: (1) conduct a retrospective study using information from electronic medical records (EMRs) of a large HMO to identify unique clusters of patients with CMP (e.g., those with differing demographics, histories of pain condition, use of allopathic and CAM health services, and comorbidity profiles) that may be associated with different propensities for A/C utilization and/or differential outcomes associated with such care; (2) use qualitative interviews to explore allopathic providers’ recommendations for A/C and patients’ decisions to pursue and retain CAM care; and (3) prospectively evaluate health services/costs and broader clinical and functional outcomes associated with the receipt of A/C relative to carefully matched comparison participants receiving traditional CMP services. Sensitivity analyses will compare methods relying solely on EMR-derived data versus analyses supplementing EMR data with conventionally collected patient and clinician data.

Acupuncture and chiropractic care for chronic pain in an integrated health plan: a mixed methods study, C Ritenbaugh, 2011