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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: 4, Informative) by weeds on Sunday April 16 2017, @11:39AM (4 children)
Isn't this about what you would expect from the placebo effect? Not that there is anything wrong with that, just that it isn't very surprising.
Get money out of politics! [mayday.us]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 16 2017, @12:09PM
I agree. People like and benefit from being touched. Go to the dollar store, buy some ibuprofen, get a massage instead.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 19 2017, @01:40AM (2 children)
The placebo effect is already in-play when people reach for pills like ibuprofen, so if ibuprofen has an effect above placebo levels than spinal manipulation does too.
(Score: 2) by weeds on Wednesday April 19 2017, @04:41PM (1 child)
I didn't know there was any doubt that Ibuprofen reduces back pain and that it's effect could be attributed to the placebo effect. The efficacy of Ibuprofen has been tested against a placebo and the placebo effect is well understood. When someone does a study that compares spinal manipulation to some other similar strategy that is known to not produce any results (and where the lack of a causal relationship is completely unknown to the subject) then you can compare them.
Get money out of politics! [mayday.us]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @12:57AM
The placebo can strengthen a drugs effects. For example, many people who take sleep pills, SSRIs, pain meds, etc... feel relief the instant they take the pill despite the majority of those drug classes uses pills which take time to cause an effect.