ACTIVITY GOAL SETTING ON CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN FOR OLDER VETERANS RECEIVING CHIROPRACTIC CARE

There is currently no literature addressing the impact that chiropractic services have on older adults achieving individualized specific goals throughout a course of care for chronic low back pain. This study aims to explore the impact of setting a self-determined, “what matters most” activity/goal of rehabilitation care with relevant activities as part of standard chiropractic care on the self-rated pain and disability of older Veterans. Participants were randomized into two groups. The first, an experimental group where participants identified a goal and received standard chiropractic care. The second, a control group that received standard chiropractic care only. Participants underwent six sessions of care. Outcome assessment tools were utilized at pre- and post-treatment for both groups as primary measures and an individualized goal setting measurement tool was utilized for those randomized to the experimental group. After treatment, all participants had self-reported improvement in their condition and all participants assigned to a “goal setting group” achieved their desired goal. Despite some outcome measures remaining unchanged, this self-reported improvement may be important in the future of chiropractic services for the older Veteran population suffering with chronic low back pain in achieving self-determined goals of importance.