Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for the invitation to present to the committee.
Good afternoon, honourable members. On behalf of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, or the CCA, the profession and its patients, it is my pleasure to be here today along with my colleague Dr. Robert David, chair of the CCA, and a chiropractor in Montreal, Quebec. My name is Dr. Ward MacDonald, and I'm a chiropractor in beautiful Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
The CCA is the national professional association representing 8,400 trained and regulated doctors of chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic must complete a minimum of seven years of post-secondary education, including a four-year, full-time program at an accredited chiropractic college. The intensive training prepares chiropractors to serve as Canada's musculoskeletal experts, providing evidence-based, drug-free, and non-surgical conservative care.
As one of three chiropractors in Wolfville, I am often required to practice as a primary contact provider within my full scope of practice. My patients will commonly seek care for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and even non-musculoskeletal complaints. Because of my training and the shortage of practitioners in my community, I am asked to evaluate, diagnose, and help patients find appropriate care. I work closely with other health care providers to ensure that my treatment enhances the care that my patients are receiving from their MDs and others. I feel privileged to have this opportunity.
Musculoskeletal conditions are a much bigger pressure on the health care system than most people are aware. Eleven million Canadians each year are affected by back pain and other musculoskeletal issues. lt is the second leading reason for a doctor visit, and the number one cause of disability in overall health costs. This burden has increased by 45% over the past two decades and is expected to continue to grow, in part due to the aging population.
As doctors of chiropractic, we have the clinical skills and expertise to not only assess patients but aIso diagnose musculoskeletal conditions. These conditions are some of the most debilitating and taxing to Canadian society. Our goal is to return patients to their activities of daily living as quickly as possible.
The evidence in support of manual therapy and other chiropractic approaches has made chiropractors an increasingly valuable part of the collaborative care team. This allows teams to use health dollars more effectively in managing patients with musculoskeletal conditions. For example, a number of provinces are using chiropractors and advanced practice physiotherapists to assess and triage patients with chronic low back pain, awaiting referrals to specialists. Among these, 90% are not candidates for surgery, but they can crowd wait-lists with unnecessary diagnostic imaging, such as MRIs and CTs. The outcomes include higher patient satisfaction, improved outcomes, and reduced system costs.
Musculoskeletal conditions are not only a provincial problem, but aIso of direct significance to the federal government. As the fifth-largest purchaser and provider of health care in Canada, the federal government has a direct and vital role to play in musculoskeletal health. Federal populations have a significantly higher incidence of back pain and other musculoskeletal conditions compared to the general population.
Most importantly, we need to talk about our Canadian Forces and veterans. Low back pain in the Canadian Forces is double that of the general population. These are young and fit men and women, yet musculoskeletal conditions are the reason for 53% of medical releases. Being a soldier is one of the most physically demanding careers. Without quick access to care, the result of that injury becomes chronic and can lead to medical release.
As musculoskeletal experts, our profession would like to do more. Currently, our soldiers have less access to chiropractic care than other federal employees. These injured soldiers go on to become veterans, and over half of the health claims made by veterans have a relationship to musculoskeletal conditions. Chronic pain from musculoskeletal conditions may not have the same profile as some other health conditions, but for those who suffer the impact can be profound. For example, musculoskeletal conditions can complicate treatments for mental health conditions if opiates are required for pain relief. As well, undue reliance on opiates can create dependency, with many related consequences.
I would now like to turn our presentation over to Dr. Robert David to outline opportunities that exist and the action the federal government can take to improve care of musculoskeletal conditions.