SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
A meta-analysis of studies has found that spinal manipulation can have a modest effect on pain and mobility:
One of the most common reasons people go to the doctor is lower back pain, and one of the most common reasons doctors prescribe powerful, addictive narcotics is lower back pain. Now, new research published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association offers the latest evidence that spinal manipulation can offer a modestly effective alternative.
Researchers analyzed 26 studies involving more than 1,700 patients with lower back pain. The analysis found spinal manipulation can reduce lower back pain as measured by patients on a pain scale, like this one from zero to 10. Spinal manipulation, which is typically done by chiropractors and physical therapists, involves applying pressure and moving joints in the spine.
Patients undergoing spinal manipulation experienced a decline of 1 point in their pain rating, says Dr. Paul Shekelle, an internist with the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Rand Corp. who headed the study. "So if it had been a 7 it would be a 6, or if it had been a 5 it would be a 4," Shekelle says. That's about the same amount of pain relief as from NSAIDs, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen.
The study also found spinal manipulation modestly improved function. On average, patients reported greater ease and comfort engaging in two day-to-day activities, such as finding they could walk more quickly, were having less difficulty turning over in bed or were sleeping more soundly.
Have you used "alternative" methods for back pain relief? Can I relieve two pain points by combining spinal manipulation with an NSAID? Is this just a way for the VA to reduce costs, or is it aimed at the war on opiates?
(Score: 1) by jcm on Sunday April 16 2017, @09:19AM (2 children)
My previous wife trained disabled people.
One of the people was a woman who was disabled because the practitioner messed up the manipulation, and probably ruined her spine.
One of my previous colleagues dated a chiropractor.
After that, he had problems with his back, because his vertebrae were loose.
So, no, spine manipulation can be very dangerous !
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 16 2017, @03:05PM
Your buddy had something loose, but it wasn't his spine.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by kaszz on Sunday April 16 2017, @08:51PM
It's like most other professions that has effect. It can do good, and bad. Same for surgeries, doctors, vaccines etc. Bad practice will hurt people. That doesn't make the profession or method bad.
Chiropractors tend to use methods however that are more brute force than Osteopathy that put the body on the right track and let it self heal. So in that case I would recommend Osteopathy and of course someone that got experience and the proof of education. Another evaluation method is the statistics on past results if it can be had. Reports of mishaps to government bodies is one way.