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Research
The following is a compilation of some of the
most powerful studies to date that demonstrate the validity,
cost effectiveness, and safety of chiropractic health care.
Take note that other countries have already adopted Chiropractic
as primary means of health care, and virtually none of the
studies were performed by chiropractors.
CHIROPRACTIC’S
EFFICACY:
1. Bigos S, Bowyer O, et al. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical
Practice Guideline, Number 14, Rockville, MD: US Dept of Health and Human
Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research,
AHCPR Pub. No. 95-0642, December 1994.
In this clinical practice guideline, a multidisiplinary panel created
by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) recommends
treating the pain of most acute low back problems with spinal manipulation
in the first four weeks of symptoms, and/or non-prescription pain killers
in conjunction with immediate mild exercise (such as walking or swimming),
and conditioning exercises about two weeks later. The guideline states:
For patients with acute low back symptoms without radiculopathy, the
scientific evidence suggests spinal manipulation is effective in reducing
pain and perhaps speeding recovery within the first month of symptoms.
2. Manga P, Angus D, et al. The effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness
of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain. The Ontario Ministry of
Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 1993.
The results of this intensive study of the efficacy and cost-effectiveness
of chiropractic (initiated and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health)
showed that in addition to being cost-effective, chiropractic is more
clinically effective than other accepted treatments of low-back pain.
The findings include:
On the evidence, particularly the most scientifically valid clinical
studies, spinal manipulation applied by Chiropractors is shown to be
more effective than alternative treatments for low back pain. Many medical
therapies are of questionable validity or are clearly inadequate.
3. Meade TW, Dyer S, et al. "Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin:
Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Treatment." British
Medical Journal, Volume 300, Number 6737, June 2, 1990, Pages 1431-1437.
Research conducted in Great Britain, conducted by T. W. Meade, a medical
doctor, compared chiropractic treatment and hospital outpatient treatment
consisting of corset-wearing and standard physical therapy, for low back
pain. The study concluded:
For patients with low-back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated,
chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long-term benefit in
comparison to standard hospital management.
A follow-up study by the same authors three years later concluded:
At three years the results confirm the findings of an earlier report
that when chiropractic or hospital therapists treat patients with low
back pain as they would in day to day practice, those treated by chiropractic
derive more benefit and long-term satisfaction than those treated by
hospitals.
CHIROPRACTIC’S
COST EFFECTIVENESS:
4. Manga P, Angus D, et al. The effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness
of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain. The Ontario Ministry of
Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 1993.Recognizing that low-back
pain is one of the most costly causes of illness and disability in Canada,
not only in terms of treatment but also as the most expensive source
of Worker’s Compensation costs, this study was conducted to evaluate
whether chiropractic health care could help ease the health care crisis
in Canada. The findings include:
There is an overwhelming body of evidence indicating that chiropractic
management of low-back pain is more cost-effective than medical management… The
lack of any convincing argument or evidence to the contrary must be noted
and is significant to us in forming our conclusions and recommendations.
The evidence includes studies showing lower chiropractic costs for the
same diagnosis and episodic need for care.
SAFETY:
When discussing the safety of chiropractic care, the alternatives must
be examined. Because chiropractors neither prescribe medication nor perform
surgery, the drawbacks of these interventions must be considered when
making an informed decision.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
in April, 1998 found that in 1994, 106,000 Americans died as a result
of taking medications which were properly prescribed and administered.
An additional 2,216,000 suffered "adverse drug reactions".
1. Manga P, Angus D, et al. The effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness
of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain. The Ontario Ministry of
Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 1993.
This previously mentioned study concluded:
There is no clinical or case-controlled 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 (physician-induced) complications
for low-back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that
chiropractic spinal manipulation is safer than medical management of
low-back pain.
PATIENT
SATISFACTION AND UTILIZATION:
1. Maust A. The Chiropractic Patient in Rural, Health Professional Shortage
Areas of the United States: An Exploratory Analysis. Research Dimensions
Incorporated, Richmond, Virginia, December 1994.
The results of this survey of chiropractic patients in medically underserved
areas indicates an astonishing 100 percent patient satisfaction rate
with the care that they receive (69 percent satisfied and 31 percent
very satisfied). When they first sought chiropractic care, 96 percent
of the respondents indicated that they were in pain and 44 percent had
gone to a medical doctor for the same condition, but did not find relief,
before seeking chiropractic care. As a result of the chiropractic care,
74 percent responded that they definitely had less pain and 21 percent
stated that the experienced relief.
2. Carey TS, Evans AT, et al. "Acute Severe Low Back Pain: A Population-based
Study of Prevalence and Care-Seeking." Spine, Volume 21, Number
3, 1996, Pages 339-344.
In this study, 4,438 adult residents of North Carolina were contacted
by telephone. Of those interviewed who had suffered at least one episode of severe
acute low back pain in the previous year (1991), 13 percent sought care from
a chiropractor, 24 percent sought care from a medical doctor, and 61 percent
sought no care at all. The remaining 2 percent saw another type of practitioner.
Of those who sought care for their back problems, the study found:
Compared to those who sought care from medical doctors, those who sought
care from chiropractors were more likely to feel that treatment was helpful
(99% vs. 80%), more likely to be satisfied with care (96% vs. 84%), and
less likely to seek care from another provider for that same episode
of pain (14% vs. 27%).
Osborne
Chiropractic Clinic
Raleigh
Chiropractic Clinic Location
5603 Suite 101, Duraleigh Road • Raleigh, North Carolina 27612
Rolesville Chiropractic Clinic Location
258 Southtown Circle • Rolesville, North Carolina 27571
© 2006 All Rights Reserved.
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