Traditional Chiropractic Adjustments

Studies show that the chiropractic adjustment opens up the joint spaces which helps to prevent degenerative arthritis, restores normal biomechanical motion, and has an effect on multiple regions of the brain leading to decreased pain perception. 

Here are a few studies that we find interesting:

69% of patients with chronic pain stated that they were either much better or better after receiving chiropractic adjustments. Peterson C., Bolton J., Humphreys K., (2012) Predictors of Improvement in Patients With Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain Undergoing Chiropractic Treatment, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 35(7) 525-533

Mortality rates due to adverse drug events (ADEs) are escalating in the United States. Analgesics are among the drug classes most often associated with occurrence of an ADE. Utilization of nonpharmacologic chiropractic services for treatment of low back pain could lead to reduced risk of an ADE. The risk of an ADE was significantly lower among recipients of chiropractic services as compared with nonrecipients. The adjusted likelihood of an ADE occurring in an outpatient setting within 12 months was 51% lower among recipients of chiropractic services as compared to nonrecipients. Whedon JM, Toler AWJ, Goehl JM, Kazal LA. Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low Back Pain and Risk of Adverse Drug Events. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2018 Jun;41(5):383-388. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.01.004. Epub 2018 May 26. PMID: 29843912.

This study measured how many people filled opioid prescriptions after treatment delivered by doctors of chiropractic compared with other treatments.  The adjusted likelihood of filling a prescription for an opioid analgesic was 55% lower among recipients of chiropractic adjustments compared with nonrecipients.   Whedon JM, Toler AWJ, Goehl JM, Kazal LA. Association Between Utilization of Chiropractic Services for Treatment of Low-Back Pain and Use of Prescription Opioids. J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jun;24(6):552-556. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0131. Epub 2018 Feb 22. PMID: 29470104.

This study showed that average total spinal, hip, and shoulder pain-related health care costs per patient during a 4-month study period were approximately 40% lower in patients initially consulting chiropractic doctors compared with those initially consulting medical doctors.  Houweling, Braga, Hausheer, Vogelsang, Peterson and Humphreys. (2015). First-Contact Care with a Medical vs. Chiropractic Provider After Consultation with a Swell Telemedicine Provider: Comparison of Outcomes, Patient Satisfaction, and Health Care Costs in Spinal, Hip, and Shoulder Pain Patients. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 38(7), 477-483.

Chiropractic care of 100 injured workers in this study showed that 81.5% of patients with acute pain reported post treatment improvement. That is a very significant number. Chiropractic, especially when part of a larger integrated model is extremely safe and effective.   Donald Aspegren, DC, MS, Brian A. Enebo, DC, PhD, Matt Miller, MD, Linda White, MD, Venu Akuthota, MD, Thomas E. Hyde, DC, and James M. Cox, DC. FUNCTIONAL SCORES AND SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES OF INJURED WORKERS WITH BACK OR NECK PAIN TREATED WITH CHIROPRACTIC CARE IN AN INTEGRATIVE PROGRAM: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 100 CASES. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009;32:765-771

100 patients with sciatica or lumbosacral pain, divided into two groups, were given standard treatment: drugs and physiotherapy, and manual examination twice a week. In one group manual treatment (spinal adjustments) was also applied to all parts of the spine with blockage and to reversible soft tissue changes. The group receiving manipulation [chiropractic adjustment] had a shorter treatment time and a more marked improvement. At 6 month follow-up, the manipulation [chiropractic adjustment] group showed better neuromotor system function and a better ability to continue employment.   Outcomes from manipulation [chiropractic adjustment] were better for neurologic and motor function as well as disability.  Disability was lower in the manipulation [chiropractic adjustment] group.  Arkuszewski Z. The efficacy of manual treatment in low back pain: a clinical trial. Man Med 1986;2:68-71.

This study focused specifically on low back (lumbar) disc herniations and concluded that, "Nearly 90% of patients reported their outcome to be either 'excellent' or 'good'...clinically meaningful improvement in pain intensity was seen in 74% of patients (p. 729)." The researchers also concluded that the improvements from chiropractic care was maintained for 14 1/2 months, the length of the study, indicating this isn't a temporary, but a long-term solution. It was reported by BenEliyahu (1996) that 78% percent of the low back-lumbar disc herniation patients were able to return to work in their pre-disability occupations, which is the result of the 90% of all low back-lumbar disc herniation patients getting better with chiropractic care as discussed above.   Murphy, D. R., Hurwitz, E. L., & McGovern, E. E. (2009). A nonsurgical approach to the management of patients with lumbar radiculopathy secondary to herniated disk: A prospective observational cohort study with follow-up. Journal Manipulative Physiological Therapy, (32)9, 723-733 

This study compared the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments to spinal surgery. 60% of the patients who underwent chiropractic care reported a successful outcome while 40% required surgery and of those 40%, all reported successful outcomes. Of those patients choosing surgery as the primary means of treatment, 15% reported a failed surgical outcome and then chose chiropractic as a secondary choice. Of those 15% with failed surgeries, all were reported to have performed worse in clinical outcomes. While it is clear that an accurate diagnosis could dictate that many patients require immediate surgery, many also do not. The above study indicates that a conservative non-operative approach of chiropractic care prevented 60% from needless surgery. While a larger study would give us more information, based upon the outcomes, cost factors and potential increased risks of surgery, it was concluded that chiropractic is a viable, first line treatment option. McMorland, G., Suter, E., Casha, S., du Plessis, S. J., & Hurlbert, R. J. (2010). Manipulation or microdiskectomy for sciatica? A prospective randomized clinical study. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 33 (8), 576-584

This study compared the results of chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxers for subacute low back pain. They reported in their raw data that the chiropractic groups responded 24% better in reducing pain than the muscle relaxer group, and concluded that, "Statistically, the chiropractic group responded significantly better than the control group with respect to a decrease in pain scores" (p. 396). This was done in "blinded, randomized clinical trials [which] are considered the gold standard of experimental design" (Hoiriis et al., 2004, p. 396). Hoiriis, K. T., Pfleger, B., McDuffie, F. C., Cotsonis, G., Elsangak, O., Hinson, R., & Verzosa, G. T. (2004). A randomized clinical trial comparing chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 27(6), 388-398.