According to a study conducted by Ontario's Ministry of Health, "...for the management of low-back pain, chiropractic care is the most effective treatment, and it should be fully integrated into the government's health care system." The same study also found, "...injured workers ... diagnosed with low-back pain returned to work much sooner when treated by chiropractors than by [medical] physicians."
The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain (The Manga Report). Pran Manga and Associates (1993) - University of Ottawa, Canada.
Medical researcher TW Meade, M.D. after a 2 year study following 741 patients wrote “Chiropractic treatment was more effective than hospital outpatient management…The effects of chiropractic seem to be long term, as there was no consistent evidence of a return to pretreatment Oswestry [pain and function] scores during the two years of follow up, whereas those treated in hospital may have begun to deteriorate after six months or a year… For patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long term benefit in comparison with hospital outpatient management… Chiropractic was particularly effective in those with fairly intractable pain-that is, those with a history and severe pain. The greater proportions of patients treated by chiropractic who were satisfied and relieved at six weeks…”
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.
Patient Evaluations |
Chiropractic Care |
Family M.D. |
Pain severity improvement |
31% |
6% |
Functional disability improvement |
29% |
1% |
Sensory pain quality improvement [physical sensation of pain] |
36% |
29% |
Affective pain quality improvement [suffering associated with pain] |
57% |
26% |
Patient satisfaction |
90% |
52% |
Number of Treatments |
4 |
1 |
Nyiendo J, Haas M, Goodwin P. Patient characteristics, practice activities and one month outcomes for chronic recurrent low back pain treated by chiropractors and family medicine physicians: a practice-based feasibility study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther, 2000; 23(4):239-45.
Patient Evaluations |
Chiropractic Care |
Family M.D. |
Mean number of days incapacitated after first visit |
11 days |
40 days |
Restricted for greater than one week |
17% |
48% |
Perception of doctor's confidence in diagnosing and treating low-back pain |
60% |
23% |
Satisfied With Their Treatment |
66% |
22% |
Patient Evaluations of Care from Family Physicians and Chiropractors. ACA Journal of Chiropractic - 1989.
Manual Therapy vs. Physical Therapy vs. Traditional Medicine
Patient evaluation |
Manual Therapy (Joint mobilization) |
Physical Therapy (Exercise alone) |
Traditional Medical Treatment (medication, home care recommendations) |
Patients felt “much improved” or “completely recovered” |
68.3% |
50.8% |
35.9% |
Office visits |
Once per week for 6 weeks |
twice per week for up to 6 weeks |
|
“ManualTherapy, Physical Therapy, or Continued Care by a General Practitioner for Patients with Neck Pain. A Randomized, Controlled Trial.” 21 May 2002 Annals of Internal Medicine (volume 136,pages 713-722). JL Hoving, BW Koes, HCW de Vet, DAWM van der Windt, WJJ Assendelft, H van Mameren, WLJM Deville´, JJM Pool, RJPM Scholten, and LM Bouter.
Patients who suffered back pain for 2-4 weeks had a 60% reduction in pain from chiropractic manipulation after 3 days compared to a 10% reduction from mobilization. “Patients who underwent (chiropractic) manipulation achieved a 50% reduction in their pain levels more rapidly than those receiving mobilization” (therapy commonly used by Physical Therapists).
A Benefit of Spinal Manipulation as Adjunctive Therapy for Acute Low-back pain: A Stratified Controlled Trial. Hadler NM et al. Spine - 1987;12:703-706.