Effectiveness of Chiropractic
The effectiveness of chiropractic treatment is very much dependent on the quality of the chiropractor and the issue you approach the chiropractor with for relief from. There is scientific evidence to support the varying quality of chiropractic procedures.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) support the use of chiropractic for treatment of acute lower back pain as they have analysed the results of studies that prove its effectiveness in this area. Acute back pain tends to last for under three months and occurs due to muscle, joint, bone and nerve pain. If the back pain continues to be a problem for longer than three months, it is labelled as sub-acute or chronic back pain depending on the severity of it.
Furthermore, the Department of Health wrote a report (‘The Musculoskeletal Services Framework for England’) that concurs that chiropractic treatment is an acceptable method to relieve conditions that cause issues with the bones, joints and/or muscles.
Some people approach chiropractors to help them relieve pain and discomfort that result from issues such as headaches (tension or migraine). However, there is a lack of factual evidence to support that chiropractic is actually a useful, effective treatment for such conditions. There is still research going on to analyse the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment to relieve people of certain illnesses, however they often conclude to show that the practise does not cure the illness. Despite this, there has been some evidence that a few symptoms of the condition have been relieved though, but this is limited.
Effectiveness Studies
Recently a study has been conductedinto the effectiveness of manual therapies, including chiropractic. The aim of the study was to gather evidence to identify whether or not using manual treatments, like chiropractic, is an effective way of managing the symptoms associated with musculoskeletal conditions. The study also looked into whether the treatment was a sufficient way to manage other issues such as headaches, chest pains and migraines, as many chiropractors claim it does.
The study concluded that techniques that manipulate the spine, which are used in chiropractic treatment, are effective in relieving the symptoms of differing lower back pain severities (acute, sub-acute and chronic). It has also been proven that spinal manipulation in adults can help treat migraines and some headaches as well as numerous joint conditions. Furthermore, it has been shown that by manipulating the spine, neck pain (both acute and sub-acute) can be relieved effectively.
Conclusions were also made in regards to what a lot of chiropractic techniques are not effective in relieving, such as asthma and hypertension. For these condition, much more effective treatments can be sought and you should contact your doctor to discuss what these may be.
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CHIROPRACTIC GUIDE
- Find Chiropractors
- Chiropractors Guide
- General Chiropractic Council (GCC)
- British Chiropractic Association (BCA)
- Regulation of Chiropractic
- Chiropractic History
- First visit to a Chiropractor
- Common Chiropractic Treatments
- Diagnosis by a Chiropractor
- Preventing the need for a Chiropractor
- How to find a Chiropractor
- Chiropractor & X-Ray's
- Cost of Chiropractic Treatment
- Chiropractor Qualifications
- Complaints about Chiropractors
- Effectiveness of Chiropractic
- Safety of Chiropractic Treatment
- Benefits of Chiropractic Treatment
