Chiropractic + Wellness

For over 10 years, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress has included chiropractic services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, as part of the approved medical benefits package offered to all enrolled veterans. A recent study organized by researchers from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System and published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the handling of chiropractic services and the chiropractic workforce in VA has grown significantly since their introduction over a decade ago. The yearly number of chiropractic visits has expanded by nearly 700 percent, hence showing an increase in veteran’s access to chiropractic care.

The lead author of the study, Anthony J. Lisi, DC, Director of the VA Chiropractic Program and Chiropractic Section Chief at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System made a statement on the progressive and significant increase of chiropractic service utilization by the VA each year after its introduction in late 2004. Additionally, as stated by Anthony J. Lisi, Veterans Affairs’ chiropractic care includes evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care, among other treatment options which are highly requested by veterans and referring providers. 

Throughout the numerous findings among an 11-year period, the study concluded that the number of individuals treated in Veterans Affairs clinics increased by 821 percent in a year, the number of chiropractic visits expanded by 693 percent in a year, the total number of VA chiropractic clinics escalated 9 percent in a year as well as the number of chiropractic employees, increasing by 21 percent in a year. Finally, the study also confirmed that the average VA chiropractic patient is male, between the ages of 45 and 64, and generally receives diagnosis, chiropractic spinal adjustments and manual manipulations, as well as other health care services focused on low back and/or neck injuries or conditions.