Throughout October, doctors of chiropractic nationwide joined ACA in celebrating National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) 2022 with the theme “Chiropractic: On the Frontline for Pain.” This theme brought attention to research and growing support in the healthcare community for non-drug pain management as a first line of defense against common musculoskeletal pain.
Doctors of chiropractic, who focus on the whole person with their non-drug, noninvasive treatments for pain management – most notably spinal manipulation – can play an important role in helping patients lessen their reliance on pain medications. This was just one of many points in ACA’s 2022 NCHM proclamation. Chiropractors and state chiropractic associations worked with state and local governments across the country on a record 74 proclamations this year. Seventeen state governments and 57 cities put chiropractic “On the Frontline for Pain” this year, with a few adapting their proclamations for Chiropractic Health Week or Day. A full list of proclamations is available below, and photos are available on Hands Down Better.
On the Healthy Living blog, ACA’s consumer blog, ACA featured Q&A interviews with four ACA members who are “On the Frontline for Pain” in different areas of the chiropractic profession. Their specialties range from sports chiropractic and occupational health to veterans health and community health centers. Each doctor shared what a “day in the life” looks like in their jobs, the common issues their patients face, and their thoughts on what it means to be “On the Frontline for Pain.”
All month long, the chiropractic community took to social media to highlight the benefits of chiropractic services and promote this year’s National Chiropractic Health Month theme. ACA shared daily posts from its 2022 NCHM toolkit, promoting chiropractic research and facts about chiropractic with the hashtag #FrontlineForPain. Hundreds of posts across social media platforms used this hashtag to promote chiropractic and its non-drug approach to pain management.
Chiropractic clinics and colleges shared ACA social media posts and came up with their own ways to celebrate NCHM. Logan University highlighted current chiropractic students on their social media channels and asked them what it means to be “On the Frontline for Pain.” Reza Eftekhar, DC, gave interviews about chiropractic on local radio and television in the Washington, D.C., area. Watch his Good Day DC interview here.
Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s National Chiropractic Health Month campaign! Though October is over, chiropractic is “On the Frontline for Pain” year-round. Chiropractic offers evidence-based treatments that are safe and effective and that may help some patients to reduce or eliminate their dependence on prescription opioids. ACA encourages chiropractors to continue educating their communities about the benefits of chiropractic care and non-drug pain management. Patient-facing information is available all year long at handsdownbetter.org.
Did you participate in NCHM this year? Do you have feedback you would like to share with ACA to help us make the campaign better? Please email us with your ideas or suggestions at communications@acatoday.org.
See the full list of proclamations here.