Chiropractic
Adjustments vs. Acupuncture vs. NSAIDs
Wouldn’t
it be nice if we could assess three common types of treatment for
neck and back pain to determine which is the most effective? Here is
a look at three studies that compared three popular forms of care for
chronic spinal pain to determine the short-term and more importantly,
the LONG-TERM benefits of chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture, and
non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, like Advil).
The
FIRST published study included a pilot group of 77 patients
complaining of chronic spinal pain (neck, mid-back, or low-back
pain). These patients were separated into one of the three treatment
groups and received either NSAIDs, acupuncture, or chiropractic
manipulation. Patients received care for four weeks with outcome
measures (questionnaires) used to assess changes in pain and
disability. After a 30-day time frame, only patients who received
chiropractic manipulation (CM) reached a level of statistically
significant improvement, supporting CM to offer the best SHORT-TERM
BENEFITS for those with chronic back/neck pain.
The
SECOND study included 115 patients, again randomized, to receive
either one of the same three treatments, but this time the outcome
data was gathered two, five, and nine weeks after the start of
treatment. Again, those who received chiropractic manipulation (CM)
experienced the best overall improvement at nine weeks.
The
THIRD study involved follow-up from the same patient group from the
SECOND study two years later. Once again, participants completed
outcome assessments that measure pain and disability. This time, the
results showed that only patients in the chiropractic manipulation
group maintained long-term improvements in pain and disability.
There
have been other studies looking at the efficacy and benefits of SMT
(spinal manipulative therapy) both in comparison with other forms of
care (as presented here) as well as with different conditions or
diagnoses. Perhaps the most exciting results were published in 2008
by the International Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on
Neck Pain.
They
divided patients into four groups (Group 1: Neck pain with little to
no interference with activities of daily living – ADLs; Group 2:
Neck pain that limits ADLs; Group 3: Neck pain with radiculopathy or
radiating arm pain from a pinched nerve; Group 4: Neck pain with
serious pathology such as cancer, fracture, infection, and/or
systemic disease.)
The
researchers concluded that chiropractic care was highly recommended
especially in Grades 1 and 2 (which includes the majority of neck
pain sufferers). Interestingly, many multidisciplinary physician
groups now incorporate chiropractic care as part of their “team”
approach, which also offer pain management in the form of
medications, injections, PT, and when necessary, surgery. They have
seen the value of spinal manipulation for neck pain and often seek
out chiropractic because it’s safe, beneficial, and cost effective.
