The report highlights that granting chiropractors the same status as physiotherapists and osteopaths within NHS pathways could have a transformative effect on both public health and the economy. According to the data, integrating chiropractic into the NHS could cut NHS waiting lists by more than 100,000 appointments and boost UK productivity by an estimated £400 million per year, while delivering £1.5 billion in total savings over the remainder of this government.
Currently, 30 million working days are lost annually due to MSK conditions. These conditions account for over a quarter of all workforce sickness absences and contribute to more than £100 billion in lost productivity every year.
Tim Button, President of the BCA:
“MSK health isn’t just about personal wellbeing. It’s a national economic issue. Our report clearly shows that integrating chiropractors more effectively into healthcare pathways could ease NHS pressures and deliver huge benefits for patients, employers, and the wider economy.”
Work-related strain remains one of the leading causes of MSK issues in the UK. The BCA’s research found that:
- The average office worker spends nearly 1,700 hours a year in front of a computer screen.
- Retail workers take an average of 10,000 steps per eight-hour shift.
- Hospital staff can reach 60,000 steps per week during 12-hour shifts.
These findings highlight the importance of posture, movement, and recovery in maintaining MSK health across all professions.
To bridge the gap between the report’s findings and everyday workplace behaviours, the BCA is launching ‘Stand: Stretch: Stride’, an easy-to-follow framework designed to encourage healthier movement and posture habits at work.
Background information:
- MSK conditions which include many common issues such as back pain, are responsible for 30% of GP appointments
- 30 million work days are lost each year due to MSK conditions
- President of the BCA Tim Button is available for interviews upon request
- The full findings of the York Health Economics Consortium report are available here
- Findings of no evidence that chiropractors are less effective than physiotherapists or osteopaths
- An opportunity for chiropractors to potentially add 100,000 community MSK appointments per year
- The potential to boost the UK economy by £400m per year through lost productivity