Chiropractic care offers patients the advantage of a conservative, natural method of healing without the use of drugs or surgery. For over one hundred years patients have benefited from chiropractic treatment. Over the past ten years scientific studies have been published that helps support and prove the effectiveness and safety of chiropractic treatment.

Manga, P., Angus, D., et al. "The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Bask Pain," The Ontario Ministry of Health, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, August 1993.

The results of this intensive study of chiropractic initiated and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, showed that in addition to being cost effective, chiropractic is more effective than other accepted treatments in treating 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 treatment for LB. (low-back pain). Many medical therapies are of questionable validity or are clearly inadequate.

This study was also conducted to evaluate whether chiropractic health care could help ease the health care crisis in Canada especially as relates to worker’s compensation costs.

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 evidence includes studies showing lower chiropractic costs for the dame diagnosis and episodic need for care.

This study also indicated that 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 complications for low-back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low-back pain.

Shekelle, P.G., Adams, A., et al. The Appropriateness of Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back pain. RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, 1992.

This study marks the first time that representative of the medical community have gone on record stating that spinal manipulation is an appropriate treatment for certain low-back conditions.

Meade, T.W., Dyer, S., et al. "Low Back Pain of Mechanical Origin: Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Treatment," British Medical Journal, 2 June 1990, Volume 300, Number 6737, Pages 1431-1437.

This research was conducted in Great Britain by T.W. Meade, a medical doctor, who compared chiropractic manipulation and hospital treatment for low-back pain consisting of corset wearing and standard physical therapy.

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 hospital outpatient management.

In a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio interview, Dr. Meade stated,

Our trial showed that chiropractic is a very effective treatment, more effective than conventional hospital out-patient treatment for low back pain, particularly in patients who had back pain in the past and who got severe problems. One of the unexpected findings was that the benefit of chiropractic over hospital treatment actually persists for the whole of that three-year period... it looks as though the treatment that the chiropractors give does something that results in a very long-term benefit. Hospital out-patient treatment for low back pain, particularly in patients who had back pain in the past and who got severe problems. One of the unexpected findings was that the benefit of chiropractic over hospital treatment actually persists for the whole of that three-year period...it looks as though the treatment that the chiropractors give does something that results in a very long-term benefit.

Koes, B.W., Bouter, L.M., et al. "Randomized Clinical Trail of Manipulative Therapy and Physiotherapy for the Persistent Back and Neck Complaints: Results of One Year Follow Up," British medical Journal, 7 March 1992, Volume 304, Pages 601-605.

This Dutch project compared the effectiveness of manipulation and physical therapy for the treatment of persistent back and neck complaints. The chiropractic treatment group showed greater improvement in the primary complaint as well as physical functions with fewer visits. It also demonstrated that manipulation and physical therapy are not interchangeable.

MacDonald, MJ., Morton, L. Chiropractic Evaluation Study Task III Report, Report of the Relevant Literature. MRI Project No. 8533-D, For Department of Defense, OCHAMPUS, Aurora, Colorado, 24 January 1986.

Clinical trials published in the professional literature between 1930 and 1981 were examined in this report of the 18 randomized clinical trials that met the strict specifications of the Midwest Research Institute. On the basis of these studies, the report concluded,

 

...manual therapy was superior to placebos

...there was greater mobility following manipulation

...the duration of treatment was shorter for the manipulated groups, and

...there was improved lateral flexion and rotation after manipulation.

 

The report also concluded that the numerous case studies throughout the literature report the satisfaction of chiropractic patients with the outcome of treatments.

Shelkelle, P., Adams, A., et al. "Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain," Annals of Internal Medicine, 01 October 1992, Volume 117, Number 7, Pages 590-598.

The use, complications, and efficacy of spinal manipulation for low-back pain was reviewed in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the third most widely read medical journal. The article concluded that spinal manipulation helped patients with uncomplicated, acute low-back pain.

Stano, M. "A Comparison of Health Care Costs for Chiropractic and Medical Patients," Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, June 1993, Volume 16, Number 5, Pages 291-299.

This retrospective statistical analysis of two years of insurance claims data represents the largest comparison of chiropractic and medical costs to date with a base of 395,641 patients. Substantial cost savings lead to a recommendation that insurance programs that restrict chiropractic coverage relative to medical coverage be reexamined.

The researcher further states:
...we believe that the wide gap in the overall cost experience between chiropractic and medical patients cannot easily be dismissed even by skeptics of the chiropractic profession... Further evidence of chiropractic’s clinical and cost effectiveness would represent a major breakthrough in this nation’s effort to promote quality while controlling the growth of health care spending.

Ebrall, P.S. "Mechanical Low-Back Pain: A Comparison of Medical and Chiropractic Management Within the Victorian WorkCare Scheme," Chiropractic Journal of Australia, June 1992, Volume 22, Number 2, Pages 47-53.

This compensation study in Australia compared chiropractic and medical management of 1, 996 cases of work-related mechanical low-back pain. The number of compensation days taken by claimants was found to be significantly lower: 6.26 days for chiropractic patients and 25.56 days for medical patients.

Jarvis, D.B., Phillips, R.B., et al. "Cost per Case Comparison of Back Injury Claims of chiropractic versus medical Management for Conditions with Identical Diagnostic Codes," Journal of Occupational Medical, August 1991, Volume 33, Number 8, Pages 847-852.

This study examined cost comparisons between medical and chiropractic providers for back-related injuries with identical diagnostic codes. It concluded that the number of work days lost under standard, non-surgical medical treatment was nearly 10 times higher than those receiving chiropractic care.

Wolk, S. Chiropractic versus Medical Care: A Cost Analysis of Disability and Treatment for Back-Related Workers’ Compensation Cases. Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research, Arlington, Virginia, September 1988.

This major study examined 10,652 closed cases of patients with back-related injuries who were covered by Florida’s workers’ compensation law which compared chiropractic case management with standard medical case management. The results indicated that the duration of temporary total disability was 51.3 percent shorter for chiropractic patients, and the cost of chiropractic service was 58.8 percent lower compared to medical costs.

Schifrin, L.G. Mandated Health Insurance Coverage for Chiropractic Treatment: An Economic Assessment, with Implications for the Commonwealth of Virginia. The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, January 1992.

This exhaustive study of mandated health insurance coverage and the economic impact of chiropractic coverage showed chiropractic to provide important therapeutic benefits, at economical costs. Additionally, these benefits are achieved with apparently minimal, even negligible impacts on the costs of health insurance.

The conclusion of this analysis is that chiropractic mandates help make available health care that is widely used by the American public and has proven to be cost effective.

The Financial Impact of Mandated Health Insurance Benefits and Providers Pursuant to Section 38.2-3419.1 of the Code of Virginia: 1991 Reporting Period. State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance, House Document No. 9, Richmond, Virginia, 1993.

This survey presented to the Governor and General Assembly of Virginia examined mandated insurance claims. Their findings indicated that doctors of chiropractic offered the lowest median cost per visit for therapeutic exercise, massage, and ultrasound when compared to physicians, physical therapists, and podiatrists.

Terret, A.G.J., "Vascular Accidents from Cervical Spine Manipulation: A Report on 107 Cases," Journal of the Australian Chiropractors’ Association, march 1987, Volume 17, Num. 1, Pages 15-23.

In 50 years, only 103 cases of serious injury caused by manipulation have been reported. The study also notes that judging by the extent of literature on this subject, these accidents have not preoccupied the chiropractic profession as much as the medical profession.

Terrett, A.G.J., Leynhans, A.M. "Complications from Manipulations of the Low Back," Journal of the Australian Chiropractors’ Association, December 1992, Number 4, Pages 129-140.

An analysis of literature on complications from low-back spinal manipulation between 1911 and 1991 indicates that, on the average, less than one case occurs each year. The most serious is cauda equina syndrome which occurs only once in 500,000 manipulations. Complications of the low-back appear to occur more frequently with manipulation under anesthesia by the medical doctor as opposed to chiropractic manipulation. This report documents the extreme infrequency of complications associated with spinal manipulation.

Eisenberg, D.M., Keseler, R.c., et al. "Unconventional Medicine in the United States," The New England Journal of Medicine, January 28, 1993, Volume 328, Pages 246-252.

This study reveals that Americans made 425 million visits to providers of alternative therapy,consisting of chiropractic, acupuncture, and massage therapy as compared to 388 million visits to traditional health care providers. Back pain was the condition most frequently treated by alternative practitioners.

Demographic Characteristic of Users of Chiropractic Services. The Gallup Organization, Princeton, New Jersey, 1991.

The executive summary of this nationwide demographic study of the users of chiropractic services which was conducted by the Gallup Organization revealed that nine of ten chiropractic users felt their treatment was effective...Eight of ten chiropractic users were satisfied with the treatment received and they felt that most of their expectations were met.

Cherkin, D., MacCornack, F. "Patient Evaluations of Low Back Pain Care from Family Physicians and Chiropractors," Western Journal of Medicine, March 1989, Volume 150, Pages 351-355.

This study revealed that chiropractic patients were described as being three times more satisfied with their care than patients of family practice physicians.

Cherkin, D.C. "Family Physicians and Chiropractors: What’s Best for the Patient?" The Journal of Family Practice, November 1992, Volume 35, Number 5, Pages 505-506.

This editorial urges family physicians to consider referring patients with low-back pain to chiropractors. The author concludes that chiropractic shows positive results for low-back pain and is a low-risk alternative to conventional medical treatment.

Sawyer, C.E., Kassak, K. "Patient Satisfaction with Chiropractic Care," Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, January 1993, Volume 16, Number 1, Pages 25-32.

Three hundred seventy six chiropractic patients in Minnesota were surveyed on general satisfaction, access, finance, and conduct. The survey found that 84 percent felt that the care they received was"...just about perfect" and 97 percent agreed or strongly agreed with the statement, "I would recommend this doctor to a friend or relative."

Yates, R.G., Lamping, D.L., et al. "Effects of Chiropractic Treatment o Blood Pressure and Anxiety: A Randomized, Controlled Trial," Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, December 1988, Volume 11, Number 6, Pages 484-488.

A study of 21 patients with elevated blood pressure revealed that elevated blood pressure can be decreased on a short-term basis by chiropractic manipulation of the thoracic spine. Subjects in the active treatment condition showed a statistically significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure as compared to the placebo and control conditions.

Kokjohn, D., Schmid, D.M., et al. "The Effect of Spinal Manipulation Pain and Prostaglandin Levels in Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea," Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, June 1992, Volume 15, Number 5, Pages 279-285.

Nearly half of all women suffer from primary Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) with pain so debilitating for 10 percent of these women that an estimated 100 million work hours are lost annually. This randomized pilot study suggests that spinal manipulation may be an effective, safe, drug-free alternative for relieving the pain of dysmenorrhea.

 

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