Chiropractic is now firmly established as a primary health-care profession
where, according to the American Chiropractic Association, approximately 7
to 16 percent of people in the United Stated seek treatment each year. Our
profession has earned recognition for its remarkable effectiveness and its
focus on natural, drug-free, non-invasive methods of treatment. This section
summarizes the effectiveness of chiropractic for some of the conditions we
treat.
General Lower-Back Pain
Approximately 25% of our patients
come to us with a chief complaint of low-back/pelvic pain or discomfort. This
pain can be brought on by an accident, overuse, repetitive stress, emotional
stress, or just everyday living.
Several studies have been conducted to determine the efficacy of spinal manipulation
as a treatment for lower-back pain in general. One of these involved three
chiropractic colleges in California, where researchers reported that "the
trend for spinal manipulation to produce better results than any form of treatment
to which it was compared was consistent and strong." For 86% of the outcomes,
spinal manipulation was more effective than any other treatment rendered for
lower-back pain.
Additional studies conducted both in and out of the United States yielded
similar results, where patients reportedly recovered at a more rapid rate,
had fewer relapses, and gained a new sense of confidence in their movement.
Still more investigations have been conducted on the effectiveness of chiropractic
treatment for two sub-categories of lower-back pain: acute and chronic.
Acute Lower-Back Pain
A report published in 1994 by the Agency
for Health Care Policy and Research on acute low-back pain concluded that spinal
adjustment is one of the most effective treatments for this condition. In another
study published in 1994 by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and
the Jefferson County (Missouri) Rehabilitation Center, it was concluded that
greater and more rapid improvement occurred when treated using exercises and
spinal adjustment for acute low-back pain.
A third study conducted by the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and the
University of Vermont was published in 1992. These researchers reported that
spinal adjustment, when compared to other methods of treatment for acute lower-back
pain (massage, corset, and TMS), proved to be a "superior," more
effective treatment after three weeks of care.
Chronic Lower-Back Pain
In 1997, the Dutch Health Insurance
Board funded an investigation that summarized the results of 48 separate studies
on the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for chronic lower-back pain.
The investigation determined that spinal adjustment is more effective than
treatments suggested by general practitioners (bed rest, analgesics, and massage).
Two similar studies conducted in Canada in 1985 (University Hospital in Saskatoon)
and 1991 (University of Calgary), plus a third study conducted in Poland in
1986 (Silesian Medical School), produced results similar to the Dutch investigation.
Neck Pain
Approximately 19% of our patients come to us with
complaints of neck pain or discomfort. This pain can be caused by a variety
of factors, such as an accident, injury, overuse, etc. The most common neck
condition we address is whiplash.
The efficacy of chiropractic for neck pain has been well documented in numerous
studies conducted in the United States, Canada, Wales, and the Netherlands.
In a joint U.S./Canadian study published in 1996, researchers from UCLA, the
West LA Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and two chiropractic colleges found
that for some patients with sub-acute or chronic neck pain, spinal adjustment
proved to be a more effective treatment than mobilization or physical therapy.
In a study conducted by the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto
in 1997, researchers found spinal adjustments to improve neck mobility and
decrease neck pain. An additional Canadian investigation published in 1997
by the University of Calgary found spinal adjustments to improve neck mobility
and decrease neck pain in patients having back and/or neck complaints.
General practitioners in private practice at the Welsh National School of
Medicine conducted a study of the efficacy of spinal adjustment in alleviating
neck and shoulder pain. The results, published in 1983, indicated that pain
and discomfort improved significantly after adjustment, as well as range of
motion and flexibility of the affected areas.
A 1992 Netherlands study conducted by doctors of medicine and other professionals
investigated different methods of treatment for patients with chronic back
and neck pain. After 12 weeks of care, manual therapy (which consisted of adjustment
and mobilization of the spine) had showed a "faster and larger improvement
in physical functioning" relative to the other types of treatment such
as massage, exercises, and physical therapy.
Head Pain
Headaches, both tension and migraine, are the chief
complaint for approximately 13% of our patients. Before you reach for your
pain-reliever of choice the next time a headache or migraine sneaks up on you,
consider the following information on the efficacy of chiropractic care for
head pain.
In a 1995 study conducted in Minnesota, the effectiveness of spinal adjustment
relative to the administration of an antidepressant drug (amitriptyline) for
patients with chronic tension-type headaches was investigated. The researchers
included doctors of chiropractic, a doctor of medicine, and another professionals
from Northwestern College of Chiropractic and the Pain Assessment and Rehabilitation
Center, Ltd. They determined that, after four weeks of treatment, patients receiving
spinal adjustment therapy experienced a continued lack of symptoms, whereas
patients taking the medication returned to original, baseline conditions.
Another study, published in 1997 by doctors of medicine and doctors of chiropractic
at the University of Odense and the Nordic Institute of Chiropractic and Clinical
Biomechanics in Denmark, compared spinal adjustment and soft tissue therapy
for the treatment of benign, chronic headaches. They found that both methods
of therapy allowed for significant improvement, and there were no side effects
or signs of worsening associated with either method.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
With a large percentage of the population using keyboards either at work or
at home, CTS is becoming increasingly common. CTS is a condition where there
is a disturbance of nerve function in the wrist. Because it is a neurological
issue, we are treating more and more patients of all ages suffering from
this malady.
One study, published in 1998 and conducted by researchers from the Northwestern
College of Chiropractic in Minnesota, compared chiropractic treatment of CTS
to conservative medical treatment. The chiropractic treatment included manipulation,
ultrasound treatment, and wrist supports, while the medical group received
an anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) and wore wrist supports. They found that
both methods of treatment proved to be equally effective and recommended that
patients with CTS who are sensitive to medical side effects pursue chiropractic
for treatment.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic
pain in the muscles and soft tissues surrounding joints, fatigue, and tenderness
at specific sites in the body. While the cause is unknown, an estimated 3 million
people are affected in the United States. Because we offer a conservative,
hands-on approach to health care, some patients suffering from fibromyalgia
are supplementing their medical care with chiropractic care.
In 1997, a study was conducted by three Canadian chiropractors on the effectiveness
of chiropractic care for patients with fibromyalgia. They reported significant
improvement in flexibility and reduction of pain levels and recommended that
this type of treatment be included along with medical treatments for this condition.
Infantile Colic
Colic is a condition that occurs in early
infancy and is characterized by episodes of loud crying, apparent abdominal
pain, and irritability. Unfortunately, it is a common condition that affects
approximately 10% of babies in the United States and lasts from about 2-3 weeks
of age until 3-4 months. While the causes of colic are not always known or
understood, parents of children exhibiting symptoms of colic are seeking help
from chiropractors because of its effectiveness in reducing the severity of
the symptoms.
One study that documents the efficacy of chiropractic for treating infantile
colic was conducted in 1989 by a doctor of medicine and doctors of chiropractic
at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Great Britain. Researchers
reported that 94% of infants with colic appeared to be helped by spinal manipulation
within 14 days of the start of treatment. The babies tended to have both fewer
episodes of crying and shorter crying spells.
Another study, this one conducted in 1999 in Denmark, investigated two infant
groups: one that was treated with spinal manipulation, and another that was
treated with an over-the-counter antacid medication (dimethicone). After two
weeks, the group treated with spinal manipulation exhibited a 67% drop in daily
hours of crying, while the dimethicone group experienced a 38% drop.
Just a sampling
In summary, the above-referenced studies indicate chiropractic is effective
for head, neck, and back pain, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia,
and infantile colic. It is important to note that the conditions discussed in
this section are not the only conditions we treat— this has simply been
a sampling of studies that have been conducted to determine the efficacy of
chiropractic. Our scope of practice extends well beyond the above maladies,
and we will help you determine if chiropractic care will be an effective means
of treating your particular condition. Chiropractic care will be an effective
means of treating your particular condition.
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