You probably know that chiropractic care can help with back
pain, headaches and neck pain. Well, you are right! Yo may not know that chiropractic care can
help with numerous other problems. Research that supports chiropractic care can also improve the following
(see references below):
Ulcers (1)
Athletic/sport performance (2)
Asthma (3-5)
Pulmonary function (6)
Immune function (7, 8)
Chronic pain (9)
Cost-effectiveness (10-13)
Crohn's disease (14)
Whiplash (15-17)
Injuries/Soft Tissue Disorders (18)
Workers compensation injuries (11, 19)
Colic (20)
Ear infections (otitis media) (21)
Vision (22-26)
These are only a few of the studies that relate to things other than what
people normally think of for chiropractic. Of course a lot of research has been
done in the areas of back pain (9, 10, 27-36), neck pain (37-41) and headaches
(41-44).
Chiropractic care is not about specifically treating any of the above conditions. Chiropractic care improves the functioning of the body and allows it to restore it's health.
Chiropractic uses the spinal
adjustment to influence the biomechanics and function of your spine and allow better
function to result. In many cases, various disorders can be traced back to the
spine, particularly where there are nerves enter/exit the spine. This is one of the
reasons why chiropractic can help with such seemingly diverse problems.
References
1.
Pikalov AA, Kharin VV. Use of Spinal Manipulative Therapy in the Treatment of
Duodenal-Ulcer - a Pilot-Study. J Manip Physiol Ther 1994;17(5):310-313.
2. Schwartzbauer J, Kolber J, Schwartzbauer M, Hart J, Zhang J. Athletic performance
and physiological measures in baseball players following upper cervical
chiropractic care: a pilot study. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research
1997;1(4):1-7.
3. Bronfort G, Evans RL, Kubic P, Filkin P. Chronic pediatric asthma and
chiropractic spinal manipulation: A prospective clinical series and randomized
clinical pilot study. J Manip Physiol Ther 2001;24(6):369-377.
4. Balon J, Aker PD, Crowther ER, Danielson C, Cox PG, O'Shaughnessy D, et al.
A comparison of active and simulated chiropractic manipulation as adjunctive
treatment for childhood asthma. N Engl J Med 1998;339(15):1013-1020.
5. Nielsen NH, Bronfort G, Bendix T, Madsen F, Weeke B. Chronic Asthma and
Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation - a Randomized Clinical-Trial. Clin Exp
Allergy 1995;25(1):80-88.
6. Kessinger R. Changes in pulmonary function associated with upper cervical
specific chiropractic care. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research
1997;1(3):1-7.
7. Brennan PC, Kokjohn K, Kaltinger CJ, Lohr GE, Glendening C, Hondras MA, et
al. Enhanced Phagocytic Cell Respiratory Burst Induced by Spinal Manipulation -
Potential Role of Substance-P. J Manip Physiol Ther 1991;14(7):399-408.
8. Brennan PC, Triano JJ, McGregor M, Kokjohn K, Hondras MA, Brennan DC.
Enhanced Neutrophil Respiratory Burst as a Biological Marker for Manipulation
Forces - Duration of the Effect and Association with Substance-P and
Tumor-Necrosis-Factor. J Manip Physiol Ther 1992;15(2):83-89.
9. Giles LGF, Muller R. Chronic spinal pain - A randomized clinical trial
comparing medication, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation. Spine
2003;28(14):1490-1502.
10. Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Frank AO. Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic
and Hospital Outpatient Management for Low-Back-Pain - Results from Extended
Follow-Up. Br Med J 1995;311(7001):349-351.
11. Manga P. Economic case for the integration of chiropractic services into
the health care system. J Manip Physiol Ther 2000;23(2):118-122.
12. Smith M, Stano M. Costs and recurrences of chiropractic and medical episodes
of low-back care. J Manip Physiol Ther 1997;20(1):5-12.
13. Stano M, Smith M. Chiropractic and medical costs of low back care. Med Care
1996;34(3):191-204.
14. Takeda Y, Arai S, Touichi H. Long term remission and alleviation of
symptoms in allergy and crohn's disease patients following spinal adjustment
for reduction of vertebral subluxations. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research 2003;4(4):1.
15. Davis C. Chronic pain/dysfunction in whiplash-associated disorders. J Manip
Physiol Ther 2001;24(1):44-51.
16. Khan S, Cook J, Gargan M, Bannister G. A symptomatic classification of
whiplash injury and the implications for treatment. Journal of Orthopaedic
Medicine 1999;21(1):22-25.
17. Woodward MN, Cook JCH, Gargan MF, Bannister GC. Chiropractic treatment of
chronic 'whiplash' injuries. Injury-Int J Care Inj 1996;27(9):643-645.
18. Crawford JP. Chiropractic intervention in the treatment of joint and soft
tissue disorders. Can J Appl Physiol-Rev Can Physiol Appl 1999;24(3):279-289.
19. Jay TC, Jones SL, Coe N, Breen AC. A chiropractic service arrangement for
musculoskeletal complaints in industry: a pilot study. Occup Med-Oxf
1998;48(6):389-395.
20. Wiberg JMM, Nordsteen J, Nilsson N. The short-term effect of spinal
manipulation in the treatment of infantile colic: A randomized controlled
clinical trial with a blinded observer. J Manip Physiol Ther
1999;22(8):517-522.
21. Fallon. The Role of the Chiropractic Adjustment in the Care and Treatment
of 332 Children with Otitis Media. Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics
1997.
22. Bilton D, Stephens D, Gorman F. Tunnel vision information: A paradox of
ethics, economics, politics and science. J Manip Physiol Ther
1998;21(7):468-478.
23. Gorman RF. The Treatment of Presumptive Optic-Nerve Ischemia by Spinal
Manipulation. J Manip Physiol Ther 1995;18(3):172-177.
24. Stephens D, Gorman F, Bilton D. The step phenomenon in the recovery of
vision with spinal manipulation: A report on two 13-year-olds treated together.
J Manip Physiol Ther 1997;20(9):628-633.
25. Stephens D, Pollard H, Bilton D, Thomson P, Gorman F. Bilateral
simultaneous optic nerve dysfunction after pariorbital trauma: Recovery of
vision in association with chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy. J Manip
Physiol Ther 1999;22(9):615-621.
26. Wingfield BR, Gorman RF. Treatment of severe glaucomatous visual field
deficit by chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy: A prospective case study
and discussion. J Manip Physiol Ther 2000;23(6):428-434.
27. Meade TW, Dyer S, Browne W, Townsend J, Frank AO. Low-Back-Pain of
Mechanical Origin - Randomized Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital
Outpatient Treatment. Br Med J 1990;300(6737):1431-1437.
28. Breen A, Breen R. Back pain and satisfaction with chiropractic treatment:
What role does the physical outcome play? Clin J Pain 2003;19(4):263-268.
29. Harvey E, Burton AK, Moffett JK, Breen A. Spinal manipulation for low-back
pain: a treatment package agreed by the UK chiropractic, osteopathy and
physiotherapy professional associations. Man Ther 2003;8(1):46-51.
30. Hayden JA, Mior SA, Verhoef MJ. Evaluation of chiropractic management of
pediatric patients with low back pain: A prospective cohort study. J Manip
Physiol Ther 2003;26(1):1-8.
31. Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H, Harber P, Kominski GF, Belin TR, Yu F, et al. A
randomized trial of medical care with and without physical therapy and
chiropractic care with and without physical modalities for patients with low
back pain: 6-month follow-up outcomes from the UCLA low back pain study. Spine
2002;27(20):2193-2204.
32. Hsieh CYJ, Adams AH, Tobis J, Hong CZ, Danielson C, Platt K, et al.
Effectiveness of four conservative treatments for subacute low back pain - A
randomized clinical trial. Spine 2002;27(11):1142-1148.
33. Dishman JD, Cunningham BM, Burke J. Comparison of tibial nerve H-reflex
excitability after cervical and lumbar spine manipulation. J Manip Physiol Ther
2002;25(5):318-325.
34. McMorland G, Suter E. Chiropractic management of mechanical neck and
low-back pain: A retrospective, outcome-based analysis. J Manip Physiol Ther
2000;23(5):307-311.
35. Blokland MP, Bolton JE, Gration J. Chiropractic treatment in workers with
musculoskeletal complaints. JNMS-J Neuromusculosketal Syst 2000;8(1):17-23.
36. Nyiendo J, Haas M, Goodwin P. Patient characteristics, practice activities,
and one-month outcomes for chronic, recurrent low back pain treated by
chiropractors and family medicine physicians: A practice-based feasibility
study. J Manip Physiol Ther 2000;23(4):239-245.
37. Evans R, Bronfort G, Bittell S, Anderson AV. A pilot study for a randomized
clinical trial assessing chiropractic care, medical care, and self-care
education for acute and subacute neck pain patients. J Manip Physiol Ther
2003;26(7):403-411.
38. Bronfort G, Evans R, Nelson B, Aker PD, Goldsmith CH, Vernon H. A
randomized clinical trial of exercise and spinal manipulation for patients with
chronic neck pain. Spine 2001;26(7):788-797.
39. Jordan A, Bendix T, Nielsen H, Hansen FR, Host D, Winkel A. Intensive
training, physiotherapy, or manipulation for patients with chronic neck pain -
A prospective, single-blinded, randomized clinical trial. Spine
1998;23(3):311-318.
40. Rogers RG. The effects of spinal manipulation on cervical kinesthesia in
patients with chronic neck pain: A pilot study. J Manip Physiol Ther
1997;20(2):80-85.
41. Hurwitz EL, Aker PD, Adams AH, Meeker WC, Shekelle PG. Manipulation and
mobilization of the cervical spine - A systematic review of the literature.
Spine 1996;21(15):1746-1759.
42. Tuchin PJ, Pollard H, Bonello R. A randomized controlled trial of
chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for migraine. J Manip Physiol Ther
2000;23(2):91-95.
43. Nelson CF, Bronfort G, Evans R, Boline P, Goldsmith C, Anderson AV. The
efficacy of spinal manipulation, amitriptyline and the combination of both
therapies for the prophylaxis of migraine headache. J Manip Physiol Ther
1998;21(8):511-519.
44. Vernon HT. The effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation in the treatment
of headache: An exploration in the literature. J Manip Physiol Ther
1995;18(9):611-617.
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