Table 3.

Expectations for medical and chiropractic treatment of low back pain

	MD clinic (n = 8)		DC clinic (n = 6)		Senior center (n = 12)			Senior housing (n = 22)
Medical treatments for LBP	M	M	D1	D	C	C	C	H	H	H
	1	2	1	2	1	2	3	1	2	3
Pain relief expected	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Prescription medicine suggested	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
X-ray or diagnostic tests performed	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Self-care/exercise recommendations	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓
Referral to specialist or pain clinic	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Surgery or injection recommendation	✓				✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Referral to doctor of chiropractic	✓	✓		✓			✓	✓	✓
Chiropractic treatments for LBP	M	M	D	D	C	C	C	H	H	H
	1	2	1	2	1	2	3	1	2	3
Pain relief expected	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Hands-on treatment/adjustment given	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Treatment of the cause of LBP problem	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Loosen up joints/maintain mobility	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓
Other modalities (TENS, instruments)	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
X-ray or diagnostic tests performed				✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Chiropractic maintenance care helps	✓	✓	✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Adjustment provides short-term relief	✓	✓		✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
Treatment approaches vary by DC	✓	✓	✓			✓		✓	✓	✓
Referral to medical doctor	✓	✓						✓	✓	✓
Self-care/exercise recommendations		✓		✓		✓	✓

MD = Medical Doctor.

DC = Doctor of Chiropractic.

LBP = Low back pain.

M# = Medical clinic focus group 1 or 2.

D# = Chiropractic clinic focus group 1 or 2.

C# = Senior center focus group 1, 2 or 3.

H# = Senior housing focus group 1, 2 or 3.

TENS = Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.