Most studies on the efficacy of chiropractic concerns low back problems
as approximately 50% of patients we see suffer from low back pain. There
are, however, more and more studies indicating that patients with e.g.
neck pain and headaches benefit substantially from chiropractic care.
Chiropractic treatment is extremely safe for people of all ages. Chiropractic
treatment is among some of the safest treatments used in the health care
field.
Read what Canadian researchers stated after performing the largest analysis
of scientific literature on the most effective and cost effective treatments
for low back pain:
The Manga Report
The Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned Manga Report represents the
largest analysis of scientific literature on the most effective and cost
effective treatments for low back pain. After reviewing all of the international
evidence on the management of low back pain, lead investigator Manga,
Ph.D., found the treatments provided by Doctors of Chiropractic were exceptionally
safe - much safer than for standard medical treatments of similar conditions.
"There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or
even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment
of low back pain. Some medical treatments are equally safe, but others
are unsafe and generate iatrogenic (doctor-induced) complications for
low back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that chiropractic
manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain."
"Indeed, several existing medical therapies of low back pain are
generally contraindicated on the basis of the existing clinical trials.
There is also some evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations
are less safe and less effective when performed by non-chiropractic professionals"
"Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low
back pain. Chiropractic management is greatly superior to medical management
in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient
satisfaction."
The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of
Low-Back Pain (The Manga Report). Pran Manga and Associates (1993) - University
of Ottawa, Canada.
The Agency on Health Care Policy and Research Study
On December 8, 1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR)
of the US Department of Health and Human Services released Clinical Practice
Guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines
were developed after extensive study of diagnostic and treatment methods
for acute low back pain.
The guidelines were created by the AHCPR panel to provide primary care
clinicians with information and recommended strategies for the assessment
and treatment of acute low back problems. The AHCPR panel was made up
of 23 members consisting of medical doctors, chiropractic doctors, nurses,
experts in spinal research, physical therapists, an occupational therapist,
a psychologist, and a consumer representative.
Their findings included:
The risk of serious complications from lumbar spinal
manipulation is rare
Conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation
should be pursued in most cases before considering surgical intervention
Prescription drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant
medications are not recommended for acute low back problems.
"Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical Practice
Guidelines. Bigos S, et al. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
PublicatioN"
The New Zealand Commission Report
The government of New Zealand published a 377 page report which assessed
the efficacy and safety of chiropractic care. The report was a result
of almost 2 years of conducted hearings from recognized health care experts.
Their principal findings included: Chiropractors are the only health practitioners
who are necessarily equipped by their education and training to carry
out spinal manual therapy (spinal adjustments).
"Chiropractors carry out spinal diagnosis and therapy at a sophisticated
and refined level. "Spinal manual therapy in the hands of a registered
chiropractor is safe."
"The duration and training of a registered chiropractor are sufficient
to enable him/her to determine whether there are contraindications to
spinal manual therapy in a particular case, and whether that patient should
have medical care instead of, or as well as, chiropractic care."
