Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for the introduction and the invitation to present to this committee.
Good morning, honourable members.
On behalf of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the profession and its patients, it is my pleasure to be here today along with my colleague, Dr. Eric Jackson. We are both in clinical practice here in Ottawa.
My name is Dr. Ken Brough, and I am a director of the Canadian Chiropractic Association. Dr. Jackson was the CCA representative on the recent Canadian Forces expert panel on low back pain.
The Canadian Chiropractic Association is a national association representing 8,400 highly trained and regulated doctors of chiropractic. Today is, in fact, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Canadian Chiropractic Association.
Seven years of post-secondary education and training prepare chiropractors to assess, diagnose, and manage musculoskeletal, MSK, conditions that include conditions of the low back, neck, muscles, and joints of the extremities.
Thank you to the committee for the invitation to discuss the impact of MSK conditions on our men and women in uniform.
This morning we will suggest strategies to help keep injured soldiers on active duty at lower cost. We have provided a written submission that provides more details on the issues we have raised today, and a proposed strategy for addressing the tremendous impact of MSK conditions on the military.
MSK conditions are an occupational hazard for every military; in fact, the prevalence of low back pain in the Canadian military is double that of the Canadian population. Of all medical releases, 53% are for MSK conditions. Likewise, non-deployment is more likely due to MSK conditions than any other reason, including family, illness, or mental health.
Besides the obvious impact on the resources and operational readiness of the military, MSK conditions may also lead to a lifetime of chronic pain, complicating the return to civilian life. Half of the health claims of veterans are MSK related. It could even complicate mental health treatment for those soldiers and veterans relying on opiates for pain relief.
As a result, the cumulative impact of MSK conditions is significant and deserves more attention than it has received to date.
Being a soldier is one of the most physically demanding careers. Rarely do jobs have comparable risks as those of a soldier. Activities including jumping out of a plane with a fully loaded pack, a fighter pilot wearing heavy headgear being subjected to G-forces, or the demands of constant training place significant stress on the musculoskeletal system.
The stakes are high. For example, consider the training of an air fighter pilot, which takes years, at a cost of $2 million or more. Keeping these men and women operational is crucial.
Neck pain is a particular problem. To prevent and quickly address early symptoms, proper management is needed. The culture of being a soldier works against seeking early care. Soldiers are trained to be fighters and to ignore early signs of trouble. Evidence shows that delaying treatment often makes the problem worse and more expensive to treat. Even if they were interested in preventative care, it is often not available. Seeking treatment risks being put on sick parade.
It is reasonable to draw a parallel between soldiers and professional athletes. Olympic athletes and professional sports franchises employ a team of therapists and health professionals, including chiropractors, to promptly address impairments and prevent injuries. The integrated support team approach commonly used in athletics uses each member of the team, contributing their strongest skills and competence.
Now I'd like to turn our presentation over to Dr. Jackson.