Low Back Pain
Low back pain is the most commonly treated condition in the chiropractic profession, accounting for over 65% of patient complaints. Numerous studies confirm that chiropractic care is an effective form of low back pain management. In 1995, a study published in the British Medical Journal compared the ongoing chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for over 700 patients with low back pain. After three years, those treated by a chiropractor showed an improvement rate nearly 30% higher than those treated in a hospital. Similarly, in 1993 the Government of Ontario commissioned a report into the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment of lower back pain that concluded overwhelmingly in its favor. The following year, that report was endorsed by government-sponsored practice guidelines in the US and the UK.
Reference: Chapman-Smith, D. The Chiropractic Profession. West Des Moines: NCMIC Group Inc., 2000. Hurwitz, E., et al. "Use of chiropractic services from 1985 through 1991 in the United States and Canada." American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 8 (1998): 771-776. Meade, T., et al. "Randomized comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for low back pain: results from extend d follow up." British Medical Journal, Vol. 311 (1995): 349-3 5 1. Manga, P., et al. "The Effectiveness an I Cost-Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low Back Pain." Ottawa, Ontario: Pran Manga an( Associates, 1993.
Neck Pain
In recent years, chiropractic treatment of the neck has received a lot of negative attention. However, in the past five years, three major studies have concluded that neck manipulation and mobilization are safe and effective methods of treatment for patients with neck pain. The "Quebec Task Force Report", the "RAND Corporation Report" and the "Cochrane Collaboration Systematic Review" have all produced evidence that neck pain is more effectively managed by chiropractic manipulation than treatments commonly administered by medical professionals.
Reference: Coulter, I., et al. "The appropriateness of manipulation and mobilization of the cervical spine." Santa Monica, California: RAND, 1996. Aker, P., et al. "Conservative management of mechanical neck pain: systematic overview and meta-analysis." British Medical Journal, Vol. 313 (I 996): 1291-1296. Spitzer, W., et al. "Scientific monograph of the Quebec task force on whiplash-associated disorders: redefining whiplash and its management." Spine, Vol. 20 (1995): 85.
Headaches
There are several types of headaches, including migraine, tension and cervicogenic (arising from the cervical spine). Numerous controlled trials now support the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for all three. In a controlled trial conducted by Macquarie University in Australia, for example, 172 migraine sufferers were treated with spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) for a six-month period. Results showed that over 20% of participants reported a dramatic reduction in the number of migraines experienced after only two months of therapy. Likewise, the majority of participants reported a marked improvement in the severity of their migraine episodes.
Reference: Bonello, R., et al. "A Randomized Controlled Trial of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Migraine." Proceedings of the 5th Biennial Congress of the World Federation of Chiropractic (1999): 183-184. Bronfort, G., et @g. "'Me Efficacy of Spinal Manipulation, Amitriptyline and the Combination of Both Therapies for the Prophylaxis of Migraine Headache." The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 21 (1998): 511-519. Christensen, H.W., et al. "The Effect of Spinal Manipulation in the Treatment of Cervicogenic Headache." The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 20 (1997): 326-330. Boline, P., et al. "Spinal Manipulation vs Amitriptyline for the Treatment of Chronic Tension-Type Headaches." The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Vol. 18 (1995): 148-154. Parker G.B., et al. "Why Does Migraine Improve during a Clinical Trial? Further Results from a Trial of Cervical Manipulation for Migraine." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, Vol. 10 (I 980): 192-198, Parker G., et al "A Controlled Trial of Cervical Manipulation for Migraine." Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, Vol. 8 (1978): 589-593.
This summary was prepared by Dr. Scott Huen
