Chiropractic Care Shown to Reduce Pain Faster than Some Traditional Medicines
For the millions of Americans that suffer from chronic back pain, finding relief is not always easy. Chiropractic care has been found to be effective, as it uses spinal and neck manipulation as a natural approach to easing pain. Despite this fact, many people continue to see traditional medical physicians instead of seeking out chiropractic care. New information may change some minds, as a recent study suggests that chiropractic care may offer a quicker recovery from back pain than other conventional treatments.
The study, published recently in Spine, consisted of 107 volunteers, all of whom had experienced some type of lower back pain within the 12 weeks prior to the study. Participants were given one of three different treatments: manual-thrust manipulation (MTM), mechanical-assisted manipulation (MAM), or usual medical care (UMC). Every participant reported their pain levels prior to the study, post-study (four weeks), and then three and six months later. Each participant received an equal amount of procedures, regardless of what group they were in.
When the treatments were finished (at the four week mark), participants who received MTM showed a significant advantage in treating back issues than those in the other groups. MTM patients also showed reduced disability of their injured area when treatments were completed. Overall pain levels were reduced in 94 percent of MTM patients, while MAM had 69 percent and UMC had 56 percent. The manual-thrust manipulation was obviously far more successful than the other options.
Scientists and doctors concluded that while all patients improved in some way with their individual treatments, the manual manipulation was shown to lead the way in overall recovery time and pain reduction. While more research will be done before major changes in society will occur, this study certainly has people taking notice. Separate research has shown time and time again that chiropractic is beneficial, and the fact that it can potentially reduce pain by 94 percent is a game-changer. In the meantime, always discuss your pain levels with both your chiropractor and your general physician.