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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: 3, Disagree) by aristarchus on Sunday April 16 2017, @11:27AM (3 children)
Chiropractic "alternative" medicine is a fraud. But looks like they want some of the Veteran's Administration money, so they need some "studies" showing they are actually "effective". And I am coming to this Fine Article about fraud just after reading the equally waco (yes, I know, but as a town in Texas, it will do) FA about goldbugs, yet another obsessive compulsive fraudulent issue with the brain-damaged right-wing nut-jobs in the America. Has Alex Jones abducted the real SoylentNews editors, and replaced them with Info Warriors, and Anti-social Injustice Deplorables?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 16 2017, @12:12PM
Completely agree. Everybody likes to cry "follow the big pharma money trail", but nobody like to acknowledge all the money in "alternative" medicine.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Sunday April 16 2017, @01:54PM (1 child)
Looks like aristarchus regards NPR and the Journal of the American Medical Association as fake alt-right news.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Sunday April 16 2017, @07:16PM
This is exactly what I would expect an editor replaced by a lizard person to say!