Below are a selection of the many studies made on the effective of Chiropractic treatment.
British Medical Journal
The British Medical Journal reported on a 10-year study where Chiropractic care was compared to medical care for low back pain. They concluded
- Chiros were significantly more effective than medical care
- Chiros care offered greater long-term results than medical care
- The UK would save millions of pounds annually if hospital low back patients were instead seen by Chiros
Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin: Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Treatment. Meade, TW et al British Medical Journal – 1990;300:1431-1437.
In Canada, the Ontario’s Ministry of Health financed an independent study on low back treatments in 1993. Its report concluded:
- Chiros was more effective, safer & less costly than medical care.
- Injured workers returned to work much sooner when treated by Chiros
- Highly significant costs savings would be seen if cases where transferred to Chiros
The report recommended:
- Chiros should be fully insured and integrated into the healthcare system
- Chiropractic services should be encouraged and preferred for most patients
- Hospitals should extend privileges and employ Chiros
A US report from the health and Human Public Services in 1994
looked at what worked and what didn’t work for acute low back pain in adults.
Guidelines were produced after reading & studying:
- 10,000 medical abstracts
- 4,000 scientific articles
The distinguished panel who submitted these guidelines consisted of:
- 11 medical Doctors
- 2 PhD’s
- 2 Physios
- 2 Osteopaths
- 2 Chiros
- 1 Occupational Therapists
- 2 Nurses & 1 Consumer
The distinguished panel recommended that spinal manipulation (also known as Chiropractic adjustments) was the best form of treatment for acute low back pain in adults. This is the exact type of treatment that Chiros are trained and been performing for over 100 years.
They concluded that spinal manipulation for acute low back pain:
- Relieved symptoms
- Increased function
- Hastened recovery
Out of all the health professionals, Chiros have the most extensive education & training in the field of spinal manipulation
Chiros received an average of 563 hours of training in spinal manipulation compared to 146 hours for osteopaths and ZERO hours for medical doctors and physios.
It’s no wonder Chiros are seen as the leaders in this form of treatment. This fact is confirmed by the prestigious RAND corporation that states that 94% of all spinal manipulation is performed by Chiropractors.
So how safe is this treatment?
The Journal of Family Practices endorsed by the American Academy of Family Physicians stated that manipulation causing vascular injuries were remote and occur in very small numbers. It went on to say that it “was used as a weapon against Chiropractors”
Medical Doctors & Certified boards neurologists Sudderth & Kendel who have experience with many thousands of vertebral vascular accidents have “never seen a case as a result of a chiropractic adjustment”.
Expert testimony given by board-certified neurologist Scott Haldermann places vascular risk as “1 in 1 million”
Report in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) places the risk as “1 in 1 million”
Report in the Journal of Forensic Sciences places the risk as “1 in 1 million”
The textbook of orthopaedic medicine places the risk as “1 in 10 million”
The textbook of orthopaedic medicine a new approach to vertebral manipulation places the risk as “1 in several tens of millions”
JMPT ( Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapeutics) mentions that in a study conducted over 15 years where 5 million neck adjustments were conducted not a single case of vertebral artery injury was reported
The Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain (The Manga Report). Pran Manga and Associates (1993) – University of Ottawa, Canada.
