A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine on June 3, 2003, proves that spinal manipulation, or chiropractic adjustment, is an effective alternative to drugs and surgery for back pain. Chiropractors and their patients have known this for decades.
To quote the article, “Spinal manipulation was more effective than sham therapy andtherapies already known to be unhelpful.” The article goes on to say that chiropractic is at least as effective as general practitioner care, painkillers, physical therapy, exercise, or back school.
Information not contained in the Annals of Internal Medicine article: The Canadian Manga Reports found that chiropractic care is safer, more effective and less expensive than medical care. Many medical treatments for low back pain are questionable, untested, or even harmful in nature. The federal government’s guidelines on low back problems found that spinal manipulation was the only treatment that can relieve symptoms, increase function and hasten recovery.
Low back pain is one of the most pervasive conditions afflicting Americans today. It is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor (followed only by upper respiratory infections). Medical doctors now refer patients to doctors of chiropractic more than at any time in the past.
