How can chiropractic treatment help?
Chiropractors treat problems with joints, bones and muscles, and the effects they have on the nervous system. Treatment consists of a wide range of manipulation techniques (some very gentle) designed to improve the function of the joints, relieving pain and muscle spasm.
Such skilled manipulation is very specific, directed at individual joints in order to reduce strains and improve mobility in one area without disturbing another
Chiropractors support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.
Research and Chiropractic
There are a number of studies that show that chiropractic treatment, including manipulative therapy and spinal adjustment, is a safe and effective intervention. In June 2009, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published new guidelines recommending what care and advice the NHS should offer to people affected by non-specific low back pain. NICE assessed the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of available treatments and one recommendation is to offer a course of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage. Spinal manipulation is part of the package of care that chiropractors offer and, by including this within the guidelines, it will hopefully increase accessibility to these beneficial treatments.
In addition to this recent publication, there are a number of other research papers and reports that may be of interest:
UK Beam Trial; Back pain, exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care. British Medical Journal Nov 2004; 329; 1377 (doi: 10.1136 /bmj. 38282. 669225.AE)
Medical Research Council; 'Low Back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of Chiropractic from hospital outpatient treatment'; Meade et al.
Medical Research Council (Follow-up-study; Trial 'Randomised comparison of Chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for low back pain; results from extended follow up'; Meade et al.
RCGP - Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain 1996, 1999, 2001.
Clinical Standards Advisory Group; Backpain Report 1994.
Acute Back Pain - Primary Care Project; The Wiltshire and Bath Health Commission.
Carter JT, Birrell LN (Editors) 2000. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - principal recommendations. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - leaflet for practitioners. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London. 2000. Waddell G, Burton AK 2000. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - evidence review. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London.
Chiropractic Treatment in Workers with Musculoskeletal Complaints; Mark P Blokland DC et al;Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System vol 8 No 1, Spring 2000
Musculoskeletal Services Framework – Department of Health. July 2006
The main treatment interventions, as recommended by the current evidence review and that of clinical guidelines is a biopsychosocial approach: a) Guidance on activity, lifestyle, prognosis and prevention. b) Physical treatments drawn from all types of manual therapy, spinal manipulation and rehabilitation exercise. c) Advice about pain control, including non-prescription medication. d) Psychosocial interventions aimed at resolving cognitive barriers to recovery.
Non-rigid stabilisation procedures for the treatment of low back pain – National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. June 2006
States that chiropractic intervention can be used in the treatment of acute low back pain.
European guidelines for the management of acute nonspecific low back pain in primary care. 2005
Recommends the consideration of spinal manipulation for patients failing to return to normal activities.
Such skilled manipulation is very specific, directed at individual joints in order to reduce strains and improve mobility in one area without disturbing another
Chiropractors support the treatment they offer with individual advice about the patient's lifestyle, work and exercise, in order to help in managing the condition and preventing a recurrence of the problem.
Research and Chiropractic
There are a number of studies that show that chiropractic treatment, including manipulative therapy and spinal adjustment, is a safe and effective intervention. In June 2009, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) published new guidelines recommending what care and advice the NHS should offer to people affected by non-specific low back pain. NICE assessed the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of available treatments and one recommendation is to offer a course of manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, spinal mobilisation and massage. Spinal manipulation is part of the package of care that chiropractors offer and, by including this within the guidelines, it will hopefully increase accessibility to these beneficial treatments.
In addition to this recent publication, there are a number of other research papers and reports that may be of interest:
UK Beam Trial; Back pain, exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomised trial: effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care. British Medical Journal Nov 2004; 329; 1377 (doi: 10.1136 /bmj. 38282. 669225.AE)
Medical Research Council; 'Low Back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of Chiropractic from hospital outpatient treatment'; Meade et al.
Medical Research Council (Follow-up-study; Trial 'Randomised comparison of Chiropractic and hospital outpatient management for low back pain; results from extended follow up'; Meade et al.
RCGP - Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Low Back Pain 1996, 1999, 2001.
Clinical Standards Advisory Group; Backpain Report 1994.
Acute Back Pain - Primary Care Project; The Wiltshire and Bath Health Commission.
Carter JT, Birrell LN (Editors) 2000. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - principal recommendations. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - leaflet for practitioners. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London. 2000. Waddell G, Burton AK 2000. Occupational health guidelines for the management of low back pain at work - evidence review. Faculty of Occupational Medicine. London.
Chiropractic Treatment in Workers with Musculoskeletal Complaints; Mark P Blokland DC et al;Journal of the Neuromusculoskeletal System vol 8 No 1, Spring 2000
Musculoskeletal Services Framework – Department of Health. July 2006
The main treatment interventions, as recommended by the current evidence review and that of clinical guidelines is a biopsychosocial approach: a) Guidance on activity, lifestyle, prognosis and prevention. b) Physical treatments drawn from all types of manual therapy, spinal manipulation and rehabilitation exercise. c) Advice about pain control, including non-prescription medication. d) Psychosocial interventions aimed at resolving cognitive barriers to recovery.
Non-rigid stabilisation procedures for the treatment of low back pain – National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. June 2006
States that chiropractic intervention can be used in the treatment of acute low back pain.
European guidelines for the management of acute nonspecific low back pain in primary care. 2005
Recommends the consideration of spinal manipulation for patients failing to return to normal activities.