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posted by Fnord666 on Sunday April 16 2017, @05:12AM   Printer-friendly
from the oh-my-aching-back dept.

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?


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 16 2017, @05:08PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 16 2017, @05:08PM (#494865)

    Weed++

    Well, it's been used for millenia to relieve ailments.
    ...and if it doesn't work for your particular problem, it's the most benign thing you could have taken.

    That the feds put it on a list with drugs with "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse" demonstrates the anti-Science position of USA.gov.

    That USA.gov's first anti-weed law was named the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 (I kid you not) which demonstrates that they are just making it up as they go along.
    They have never been interested in reading any existing studies nor in doing any new studies.
    Their minds are made up; don't bother them with facts.

    "alternative"^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H

    FYI: Instead of backspacing each character, you can backspace an entire word with ^W.

    .
    When I feel back pain beginning, I'm another who does some light exercise.
    A set of crunches does it for me.
    I also appreciate having a small woman walk on my lumbar, directing her where to apply the pressure.

    My Mom has gotten effective relief via chiropractic manipulation.

    -- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]