Are you seeking relief from your low back pain?
New research shows chiropractic care as an AWESOME option to consider as a conservative/non-pharmacological approach to back pain and dysfunction. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), conducted by Goertz et al., investigated the effects of chiropractic care on low back pain in a sample of US military personnel receiving usual medical care. The results of the study indicated that individuals who received chiropractic care, in addition to usual medical care, reported statistically significant improvements in pain and disability compared to those who received only usual medical care. The improvements were deemed to be of moderate intensity. These findings suggest that chiropractic care may be an effective treatment for individuals suffering from low back pain and may serve as a useful supplement to usual medical care for this condition. It is important for anyone seeking effective conservative care to further examine this study and its outcomes, as well as delving into the impact of chiropractic care and how it may be able to provide relief for those struggling with low back pain. The history of care for back pain and dysfunction has been evolving for many years now, and this study is a spotlight to improvements Medical Doctors (MD) and Chiropractors (DC) have been seeing for generations.
Study:
This trial conducted by Goertz et al., titled Effect of Usual Medical Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Medical Care Alone on Pain and Disability Among US Service Members with Low Back Pain – A Comparative Effectiveness Clinical Trial, investigated the effects of chiropractic care on low back pain in a sample of US military personnel who were receiving usual medical care. “Usual Medical Care” would most commonly result in a mixture of approaches ranging from: self care, a visit with a Primary Care Physician/Medical Doctor (PCP/MD), Physical Therapy (PT), pain management via prescription intervention, and corrective exercises, as well as ice/heat therapies – usually via PT. The study indicated that individuals who received chiropractic care in addition to usual medical care reported statistically significant improvements in pain and disability compared to those who received only usual medical care. These improvements were considered moderate in intensity.
Conclusion:
This study suggests chiropractic as an effective treatment option for individuals with low back pain and also a useful supplement to usual medical care! Chiropractic care involves the use of adjustments to the spine and other joints via manual thrust with hand, mechanical thrust with a specialized tool (Activator, Arthrostim, Thompon Drop, etc.) to improve the body’s neurologic function and reduce pain. This news is HUGE because it improves and expands upon the current body of evidence supporting non-pharmacological approaches to treat neuromusculoskeletal disorders! As a chiropractor, I can say with confidence that I see these results in my office on a firsthand basis. I also live in San Diego, an increased military population, where I see active and non-active service members and their families more frequently than other less populated areas. I KNOW chiropractic care is a great conservative, non-pharmacological, approach to treating dysfunction. I even think it is wonderfully paired with other conservative approaches like PT, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, and Functional Nutrition. In short, if you are in a pinch and are looking for relief, try a conservative approach first! It might just be exactly what you need.
Disclosures:
Pros – The study was conducted on younger (average ~31 years old) and potentially more “athletic” (military/service members) individuals – ie. a targeted and controlled audience. A targeted audience can help with controling variables and strengthen potential outcomes found of the tested hypothesis. The military population is a uniquely controlled population that makes research easier to track.
Cons – It is worth mentioning that the study only examined the effects of chiropractic care in combination with usual medical care, not individually, and only included military personnel. In short, more research needs to be continued with chiropractic as a single intervention to further strengthen efficacy; and the population sample is not fully indicative of the general population and warrants futher research. Although it is highlighted as support, its limitations as a broad spectrum of the general population needs to be addressed. However, it is all a productive start to finding non-pharmacological interventions that are actually effective with relatively low risk to the individual.
JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(1):e180105. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0105
Dr. Jonathan Marshall, DC 