Chiropractic and medical care costs of low back care: results from a practice-based observational study.

Objective: To compare the 1-year costs for patients treated for acute and chronic ambulatory low back pain by medical physicians and chiropractors.

Study Design: Prospective, practice-based observational study undertaken in 13 general medical practices and 51 chiropractic community-based clinics.

Patients And Methods: Of 2872 study patients, 2263 had complete 1-year records of services.