Use of Complementary Approaches for Pain Management Are on the Rise

The common use of complementary approaches to healthcare in the U.S. prompted investigators to explore changes in use over time, and specifically use of complementary approaches for pain management. About 30,000 responses to a national health interview from 2002, 2012 and 2022 were used to assess the frequency and purpose of acupuncture, guided imagery, massage, naturopathy, chiropractic care, yoga, and meditation.

Use of all 7 forms of complementary approaches for any reason increased significantly from 2002 to 2022. For example, use of chiropractic care increased from about 7% to 11%, meditation increased from 7% to 17%, massage therapy increased from 5% to 11%, and yoga increased from 5% to 15%. Among those using chiropractic care in 2022…