Consider Chiropractic Before Pills 

Need help managing your low back pain (LBP)? Before you reach for that bottle of muscle relaxants, consider recent evidence that shows that chiropractic care is more effective than drugs for pain.

A study compared chiropractic adjustments vs. muscle relaxants for the treatment of LBP. One hundred ninety-two patients with LBP were assigned to one of two intervention groups (adjustments with placebo medicine or muscle relaxants with sham adjustments) or to a control group (sham adjustments with placebo medicine). Chiropractic adjustments consisted of high-velocity, low-amplitude thrusts to the lumbar, pelvic or sacral spinal region, performed with each subject in a prone or side-lying position on a drop table. The interventions were applied for two weeks (eight visits), followed by a final assessment visit two weeks later.

Results: After two weeks, chiropractic adjustments proved to be more effective than placebo in reducing pain, and more effective than muscle relaxants and placebo in reducing Global Impression of Severity scores. "This study identified a sample population of subacute low back pain sufferers for which chiropractic care provided an equally effective management to the conservative medical care of muscle relaxants," wrote the researchers.

Reference: Hoiriis KT, Pfleger B, McDuffie FC, et al. A randomized clinical trial comparing chiropractic adjustments to muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics July-August 2004;27(6):388-98.

Chiropractic + Exercise = LBP Relief

Numerous studies have long praised chiropractic care in the treatment of low back pain (LBP); however, 11 national guidelines still recommend the "stay-active," or exercise, approach to treating LBP.

A 10-week study investigated the benefits of manipulative therapy and stay-active care vs. stay-active care alone in 160 patients with LBP of three months or less duration. The authors defined "stay-active" as an approach to patient care whereby patients are encouraged to take part in physical and other activities to stay fit.

Results showed that manipulation combined with stay-active care "improved pain measured as pain during the last week and everyday function in acute and subacute cases of low back pain better than stay active treatment only." Moreover, at five and 10 weeks, patients in the experimental group had less pain and lower disability rating indices than members of the reference group.

In addition to treating LBP, regular chiropractic care has a host of other benefits, including pain and stress relief, while regular exercise is necessary for maintaining total health and wellness. Imagine what the two combined can do for you! Make an appointment with your doctor of chiropractic today.

Reference: Grunnesjö MI, Bogefeldt JP, Svärdsudd KF, Blomberg SIE. A randomized controlled clinical trial of stay-active care versus manual therapy in addition to stay-active care: functional variables and pain. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics September 2004;27(7):431-41.