by Vladimire Herard
Chiropractics is gradually exhibiting success among a wide array of solutions to addressing chronic back pain, researchers find.
Included in the arsenal of obvious solutions are regular physical exercise, including those that focus on strength-training, flexibility and mobility, a solid diet, sound sleep habits, substantial weight loss, different pain killers and physical pain relievers.
Chiropractic care has begun to take its place among those and medical alternatives such as acupuncture and physical, massage and occupational therapy to successfully treat back pain. In fact, a great deal of overlap exists among these medical specialties.
The practice involves diagnosing, treating and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine.
Chiropractors determine the underlying cause of ailments. They connect these disorders of the joints, including the spine, with overall health and believe that manipulating the spine, joints and soft tissues boosts it.
Aside from applying manual therapy to these ailments, chiropractors counsel their patients on proper physical exercise to be carried out at home, on health care and on lifestyles.
Some may incorporate exercise, massage and heat or ice therapy into their work. The practice is covered under private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
Roughly 40 million individuals see chiropractors every year nationwide. About 30 percent of them have spine problems and are being treated for back pain from accidents, athletic activity and muscle strain. Chiropractics also address pain in the neck, arms, legs and headaches.
Of the different ailments that chiropractics treat, low back pain is found to cost at least $200 billion annually nationally, including health care costs and missed work. It is also considered one of the top causes of disability globally.
Recent research found that, for back pain sufferers, chiropractics lead to profound relief from pain and stiffness, more functionality and mobility, greater satisfaction with their treatment mode and less reliance on pain drugs.
The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study in 2018 that revealed the benefits of chiropractics for back pain patients, finding it safe and effective.
The study enrolled nearly 800 military staff who reported back pain. Half were selected to receive regular care in the form of drugs, self-care and physical therapy while the remaining staff obtained chiropractic care.
Those who were treated with chiropractics described its aforementioned benefits and efficacy at length. This is especially true for low back pain than for acute or severe back pain, according to research dating back more than a decade.
Additionally, no major side effects surfaced with 10 percent stating that they experienced stiffness in the joints or muscles and five percent of those receiving regular care reporting the same.
Still, the usability of chiropractics is still left up to question. Research on this form of care is sparse and it has not been widely used to treat back pain and other ailments. With the little volume of research that exists, researchers do not see eye to eye on chiropractics and its place in medicine.
Typically, physicians will recommend that their back pain patients consult with a physical therapist immediately. Meanwhile, some back pain patients will visit acupuncturists, massagists and chiropractors without recommendation as one isn’t needed.
As a consequence of a gap in research, questions abound as to whether chiropractics should be incorporated into regular medical care, offered to those who don’t respond well to regular care and exactly who benefits more from the approach than others.
