World-Wide Study Validates Chiropractic

Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders

A common question among new or uncertain patients is often "How truly effective is chiropractic care, and is it really valid?". After all, for centuries the medical profession has influenced the public's general perception (as well as insurance coverage) of chiropractic as being ineffective. Fortunately, the growing demand for chiropractic speaks for itself, but a recent landmark study further solidifies its validity and success.

In 1999 a small task force study was completed to investigate neck pain which only revealed that the problem was much bigger than first thought. Investigators then compiled a list of the 10 most costly health burdens and discovered that among them three were spinal related; neck pain, low back pain and headaches, and that they accounted for more economic cost than all others. That sparked the genesis of the "Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and its Associated Disorders". What this study ultimately revealed was that chiropractic provides significantly effective results among all providers and methods of care.

The international Task Force, which was established in 2000, was comprised of a 5-member executive committee, 13-member scientific secretariat, over 50 leading researchers and led by director Scott Haldeman, DC, MD, PhD, a leading neurologist from the University of California at Irvine. The study was conducted in major medical and research centers in 9 countries of the world. They investigated over 32,000 existing research papers and preformed additional research over the course of the study to culminate the conclusive findings which were published in a 220 page manuscript in the Journal Spine and the European Spine Journal. Although the study was slated to extend for 10 years, it was published at the end of 2008.

The intention of this comprehensive study was to attain a more indepth understanding of the impact and ultimate management of one of the leading economic and physically disabling health burdens. In other words, what kind of methods would be the best and who should be the authority on the treatment, prevention and management of these conditions. At the outset of the study, neck pain was the focal point, but as Dr. Haldeman stated, other spinal conditions could easily be extrapolated in the results.

The results of this indepth study "are overall very positive for the chiropractic profession" according to Dr. Haldeman. More important are Several factors that demonstrate the significance of this study for chiropractic patients and the millions of Americans with neck and back pain.

The key findings of the study are summariezed as follows:

• First off, the study shows that spinal related pain and disorders are a significant and overwhelming problem worldwide. Well over 80% of all Americans will experience neck pain and well over 80% will experience low back pain at some time in their lives.
• The reality of neck pain prognosis is that most people with neck pain do not experience a complete resolution of symptoms, and 50% to 85% of those who experience neck pain at some time will report it again 1 to 5 years later.
• They discovered there are hundreds of different providers, treatment options and products available which claim some form of relative success in treating these conditions.
• However, after scrutinizing the hundreds of different treatment options, it was determined that no provider or method is clearly superior to any other. Although it was clear that interventions that focused on regaining function and mobilization were relatively more effective that interventions that did not have such a focus.
• Of importance is that of all existing methods, the one means that showed the most overall effectiveness, best cost effectiveness and with the best long term results was manipulation and mobilization of joints (chiropractic). Overall, mobilization, manual therapy, exercis and low-level laser therapy appeared to be more beneficial forms of treatment.
• Yet considering the complexities of the conditions, treatment options will remain varied and it is recommended that individuals consider the different options and what may be most individually appropriate.
• Of particular interest is that in the majority of all neck pain conditions, surgery was determined to be the least recommended option with the poorest results.

Overall the study results demonstrate why chiropractic remains one of the most highly utilized and effective forms of care. The ultimate consensus determined that mobilization of joints and related tissues is the most effective and restorative means of therapy and recovery. The reason is due to the restorative and healing nature achieved when joint tissues are brought back to more normal movement or function. Normal joint function improves optimal circulation of joint tissues thus slowing degeneration and enhancing healing. More important, it restores proper nerve signaling which results in balanced muscle tone and reduced pain signaling.

Contrary to the medical profession's biased view of chiropractic, it's important that people suffering from spinal pain-type conditions be aware of and recommended to consider this proven effective form of care. Medical management options which are predominantly in the form of symptom relief have historically failed to provide effective results. It's time to respect chiropractic as not an end all, but certainly an authority on the subject.

Chiropractic has provided successful results to patients for over 115 years with the highest patient satisfaction, and has escelated in the amount of valid and supportive research. Our goal is to heal and restore for your optimal results and independent health!

For more indepth information or offprints of the studies, please contact Dr. Wilson.

Revised Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines Recommend Chiropractic

Healthcare expenditures for neck and back pain and for work related injuries have escalated so much (8-fold increase) over the past year that the revision of the American College of Occupational and Envirionmental Medine's (ACOEM) recommendation of chiropractic manipulation in the guidelines of treatment is yet further testimony to the benefits of chiroprctic care.

Although in the past, the ACOEM has not recognized chiropractic, the recent (2008) revision of the Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines recommends manipulation for chronic, persistent low back or neck pain and for cervicogenic headaches. This is a significant step for public perception and the improved understanding of the benefits of chiropractic. With so many treatment options to chose from, and many with adverse side effects, it has always been a challenge to provide compelling evidence for patients unfamiliar with chiropractic, to trust a chiropractic care regimen.

While many individuals rely on chiropractic with certainty, many are not aware of the help it offers. The guidelines, based on over 1,500 references and 546 well designed studies, were developed by a multidisciplinary panel which was reviewd by leading health and medical organizations. This translates into the increasing validity and evidence for encouraging not only improved information regarding the benefits of chirorpactic, but the potential for better reimbursement.

The guidelines recommend courses of manipulation treatments for chronic persistent low back pain and include a regimen of follow-up treatments to maintain at-work status. It also states that manipulation for recurrent exacerbations (re-injury or flare-ups) is of benefit and considered effective. This is also significant, because it states that not only is the initial acute phase of treatment important, but maintaining the improvement as well as repeated use of manipulation is also declared as a recommendation. Of course treatment recommendations are coordinated with strengthening and exercise. Other treatment considerations are to change to alternative forms of manipulation (such as different techniques or providers) should the response not result in favorable progress before completely discontinuing the manipulation program.

Recommendation for treatment of cervicogenic (related to the joints and muscles of the neck) headaches are also described and consideration of continued treatments should be based on objective improvement and functional progress.

As described in the Bone and Joint Task Force, one of the most important findings of the study, and equally relevant here, is that finding a provider you feel most comfortable with is important to the outcome and results. More patients are finding the results of their chiropractic care of benefit, and it is great to have more substantial validation come about to provide more helpful recommendations.

If you would like to receive more information about these studies or the science behind chirorpactic ,
or if you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wilson, follow this link: