A recent survey conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation questioned 3,450 U.S. residents about their usage of alternative therapies. These therapies were: chiropractic, therapeutic massage, relaxation techniques, and acupuncture.
The most commonly used treatment was chiropractic; the study estimated that 6.8% of the U.S. population, 17.6 million people, visited a chiropractor in 1994. Eight million people visited a massage professional, and1 million an acupuncturist.
The study also reported that HMO members were less likely to use chiropractic services than members of PPOs or other fee-for-service insurance plans. Of the patients who visited a chiropractor, 76.4% did so for a specific health condition.
Paramore LC. Use of alternative therapies: estimates from The 1994 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation National Access to Care Survey. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 1997;13(2):83-89.