Search our sites for the information you need!

Just a few of the Studies on Chiropractic
(Many are from conventional Medicinal Journals)

 

Chiropractic Treatment of Disc Herniations Magnetic resonance imaging and clinical follow-up: study of 27 patients receiving chiropractic care for cervical and lumbar disc herniations. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 1996;19(9):597-606.	This study examined 27 patients in a private chiropractic practice who presented with neck or back pain andwho had MRI-documented cervical or lumbar disc herniations that corresponded with clinical findings. “Patients were treated with a course of chiropractic care consisting of traction for the cervical spine or flexion distraction in the lumbar spine in the acute phase of care, in addition to interferential/ultrasound combination and cryotherapy. In the subacute phase, rotational manipulation was judiciously added, as were isometric and flexibility exercises. In the chronic stage of care, distraction manipulation and rehabilitative exercises were continually employed. Rehabilitative exercise included extension exercises in addition to pelvic tilts, lifts and knee flexion stretching.” “Treatment frequency was typically four to five times/wk for weeks 1 and 2, then three times/wk with decreasing frequency as the patient progressed. Duration of active care varied from 6 wk to 6 months.” “When patients reached the point at which their VAS [visual analog scale] score was ✟2, their exam findings reversed and their extremity pain resolved, a repeat MRI was obtained. This scenario occurred as early as 6 wk after initiation of care.” If the patients did not reach these milestones, follow-up MRI was performed 1 year after the initiation of care. The study found that 22 of 27 (80%) had good clinical outcomes; 17 of the 22 (77%) “had not only good clinical outcome but also evidence of reduced or resolved disc herniation upon repeat MRI scanning.” Five patients (18.5%) had a marginal or poor outcome, but none had worse clinical signs or pain ratings at the end of the study. At the beginning of the study, all 27 patients had left work because of the severity of the pain; at follow-up, 21 (78%) were back to work in their former occupations. VAS scores decreased from an average of 6.9 before treatment to 1.9 following treatment. One important issue that the author addresses is the controversy of whether manipulation is contraindicated for disc herniation. After reviewing the literature, and from his clinical findings, he concludes that manipulation is indeed safe for disc herniation: “…in the cervical and lumbar spine, rotational manipulation most likely cannot be implicated in disc failure or exacerbation of a disc herniation, and for rotational forces from a manipulation to be involved in disc failure, facet fracture must occur first.” No complications occurred in this study. BenEliyahu DJ.
Autonomic Nervous System Function Among Individuals With Acute Musculoskeletal Injury Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics January 2005, Volume 28, Number 1	Scientific validation on how manipulation effects the nervous system. “It is well established that nociceptive and other aberrant neurologicalfrom dysfunctional musculoskeletal structures of any component of frame influences the autonomic nervous system.”
United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: cost effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care UK BEAM Trial Team (Andrea Manca) British Medical Journal 2004;329:1381 December11, 2004	“A UK trial comparing private Chiropractic and NHS outpatient treatment found that reductions in time off work more than offset the net health service cost incurred by Chiropractic .” [Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Townsend J, Frank AO. Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of Chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment. BMJ 1990;300: 1431-7].
Comparative Analysis of Individuals With and Without Chiropractic Coverage Patient Characteristics, Utilization, and Costs Archives of Internal Medicine. October 11, 2004;164:1985-1992 Antonio P. Legorreta, MD, MPH; R. Douglas Metz, DC; Craig F. Nelson, DC, MS; Saurabh Ray, PhD; Helen Oster Chernicoff, MD, MSHS; Nicholas A. DiNubile, MD	Several studies (mostly workers’ compensation studies) have shown the costeffectiveness of Chiropractic compared with medical management for neuromuscular conditions in a review of current literature.
The Magna Report	The Manga Report overwhelmingly supported the efficacy, safety, scientific validity, and cost-effectiveness of Chiropractic for low-back pain. Additionally, it found that higher patient satisfaction levels were associated with Chiropractic care than with medical treatment alternatives.
RAND Study on Low-Back Pain	The RAND reports marked the first time that representatives of the medical community went on record stating that spinal manipulation is an appropriate treatment for certain low-back pain conditions.
The New Zealand Commission Report	In its 377-page report to the House of Representatives, the Commission called its study "probably the most comprehensive and detailed independent examination of Chiropractic ever undertaken in any country." By the end of the inquiry, the commission reported itself "irresistibly and with complete unanimity drawn to the conclusion that modem Chiropractic is a soundly-based and valuable branch of health care in a specialized area..."
Florida Workers' Compensation Study	A 1988 study of 10,652 Florida workers' compensation cases was conducted by Steve Wolk, Ph.D., and reported by the Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research. It was concluded that "a claimant with a backrelated injury, when initially treated by a chiropractor versus a medical doctor, is less likely to become temporarily disabled, or if disabled, remains disabled for a shorter period of time; and claimants treated by medical doctors were hospitalized at a much higher rate than claimants treated by chiropractors."
Washington HMO Study	In 1989, a survey administered by Daniel C. Cherkin, Ph.D., and Frederick A. MacCornack, Ph.D., concluded that patients receiving care from health maintenance organizations (HMOs) within the state of Washington were three times as likely to report satisfaction with care from chiropractors as they were with care from other physicians. The patients were also more likely to believe that their chiropractor was concerned about them.
Utah Workers' Compensation	The study indicated that costs were significantly higher for medical claims than for Chiropractic claims; in addition, the number of work days lost was nearly ten times higher for those who received medical care instead of Chiropractic care.
STANO COST COMPARISON STUDY	A study by Miron Stano, Ph.D., reported in the June 1993 Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics involved 395,641 patients with neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Results over a two-year period showed that patients who received Chiropractic care incurred significantly lower health care costs than did patients treated solely by medical or osteopathic physicians.
AUSTRALIAN COMPARATIVE STUDY	A 12-month study conducted by P.S. Ebrall, BAppSc, and reported in the June 1992 Chiropractic Journal ofAustralia indicated: When Chiropractic management was chosen, fewer claimants required compensation and fewer compensation days were taken. When medical management was chosen, the aver.age payment per claim was greater and a greater number of patients regressed to chronic status, and the average payment per claim was greater.
Patient Disability Comparison	Study that compared patients of family physicians and of chiropractors. The article stated "the number of days of disability for patients seen by family physicians was significantly higher (mean 39.7) than for patients managed by chiropractors (mean 10.8)." A related editorial inthe same issue referred to risks of complications from lumbar manipulation as being "very low."
Saskatchewan Clinical Research	Following a 1993 study, researchers J. David Cassidy, D.C., Haymo Thiel, D.C., M.S., and W. Kirkaldy-Willis, M.D., of the Back Pain Clinic at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatchewan concluded that "the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disk herniation by side posture manipulation is both safe and effective."
Wight Study on Recurring Headaches	A 1978 study conducted by J.S. Wight, D.C., and reported in the ACA Journal of Chiropractic, indicated that 74.6% of patients with recurring headaches, including migraines, were either cured or experienced reduced headache symptomatology after receiving Chiropractic manipulation.
Virginia Comparative Study	A 1992 study conducted by L.G. Schifrin, Ph.D., provided an economic assessment of mandated health insurance coverage for Chiropractic treatment within the Commonwealth of Virginia. As reported by the College of William and Mary, and the Medical College of Virginia, the study indicated that Chiropractic provides therapeutic benefits at economical costs. The report also recommended that Chiropractic be a widely available form of health care.
1985 University of Saskatchewan Study	In 1985 the University of Saskatchewan conducted a study of 283 patients "who had not responded to previous conservative or operative treatment" and who were initially classified as totally disabled. The study revealed that "81% ... became symptom free or achieved a state of mild intermittent pain with no work restrictions" after daily spinal manipulations were administered.
1990 British Medical Journal Report	A study conducted by T.W. Meade, a medical doctor, and reported in the June 2, 1990, British Medical Journal concluded after two years of patient monitoring, "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."
1992 America Health Policy Report	A 1992 review of data from over 2,000,000 users of Chiropractic care in the U.S., reported in the Journal ofAmerican Health Policyt stated that "Chiropractic users tend to have substantially lower total health care costs," and "Chiropractic care reduces the use of both physician and hospital care."

Click Image for Activerelease.ca