CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH
​All of the articles and research studies featured on this page are from reputable, scientific peer reviewed journals, credible news sources, or from recognized professional associations (e.g., American Medical Association, American Chiropractic Association, etc.) . The titles listed below are simplified explanations of the results or conclusions from each article/research study. Attached is a link to the actual article/research study in the reference from where it appears.
Chiropractic and Back Pain
When self care options do not result in improvement, clinicians should consider recommending non-drug treatments shown to be of benefit. For acute low back pain the only treatment with proven benefits in this category is spinal manipulation. - The Guidelines Issued by The American College of Physicians (ACP) and The American Pain Society (APS) for the management of Low Back Pain - Annals of Internal Medicine, October 2007
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Chiropractic care (Spinal Manipulative Therapy) is recommended as the first and primary treatment for Acute Low Back Pain - Spine Journal, December 2010
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Moderately strong evidence supports the use of Spinal Manipulation in acute back pain - The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Aug 2006
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Recommendations can be made with some confidence regarding the use of Spinal Manipulation as a viable option for the treatment of both Low Back Pain and Neck Pain - Spine Journal, May-June 2004
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In acute nonspecific lower-back pain (0-4 weeks duration of pain) there is moderate to strong evidence that treatment with a limited number of sessions of Spinal Manipulative Therapy is effective for pain relief - Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, Feb 2006
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Spinal Manipulation is effective for the treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain - Spine Journal, August 2011
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"Maintenance" Spinal Manipulation is effective at preventing pain and disability due to Chronic Low Back Pain - Spine Journal, August 2011
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Intensive Spinal Manipulation is effective for the treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain - JMPT , Oct 2004
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Spinal manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for: acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain - Journal of Chiropractic & Osteopathy, Feb 2010
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"Maintenance" Spinal Manipulation following the completion of a treatment plan helps to maintain the benefits of care - JMPT, Oct 2004
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Specific structured exercise and Spinal Manipulation both offer significant pain relief and functional improvement for those with chronic low back pain within 8 weeks of care - Spine Journal, Oct 2011
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Spinal Manipulation improves muscle function for the muscles of the low back - JMPT, Nov 2000
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With the management of chronic low back pain, Spinal Manipulation may provide short-term pain relief with a primary care plan focused on patient education, self-care, and back exercises - Current Sports Medicine Reports, Jan-Feb 2010
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Chiropractic Adjustments (Spinal Manipulations) help to relieve Back Pain and Sciatica due to Disc Herniation - Spine Journal, March-April 2006
Spinal Manipulation is an effective therapy for treating Chronic Low Back Pain - Annals of Internal Medicine, October 2007
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Chiropractic adjustments (spinal manipulation) help to relieve low back pain during pregnancy - JMPT, July-August 2008
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Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation is safe and helps to reduce intensity of low back pain during pregnancy - Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, Jan-Feb 2006
Chiropractic and Neck Pain
Thoracic Spine Manipulation results in superior clinical benefits that persist beyond the 1-month follow-up period for patients with acute neck pain - Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Jan. 2009
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Specific exercises used in conjunction with Spinal Manipulation is effective for the relief of pain and improved function when treating mechanical neck disorders with or without headaches - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, July 2005
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Treatment implementing both Spinal Manipulation and neck/upper back exercises is beneficial for the relief of persistent neck pain with or without headache - Spine Journal, July 2004
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Spinal Manipulation improves ranges of motion of the neck - JMPT, Nov 2001
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Spinal Manipulation is effective for the treatment of acute spinal pain - Family Practice, July 2003
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Spinal Manipulation can improve efficiency, strength, and coordination of the neck muscle and can alleviate fatigue of neck muscles in patients with cervical spondylosis - China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Jan 2012
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Cervical Spine Manipulation may alter cortical somatosensory processing and sensorimotor integration. These findings may help to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the effective relief of pain and restoration of functional ability documented following Spinal Manipulation treatment - Clinical Neurophysiology, Feb 2007
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Thoracic manipulation/mobilization is effective for the treatment of acute and subacute neck pain - Journal of Chiropractic and Osteopathy, Feb 2010
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Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation helps to reduce neck pain and has a relaxing affect on the autonomic nervous system - Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, Nov-Dec 2011
For people with acute and subacute neck pain, Spinal Manipulation was more effective than medication in both the short and long term - Annals of Internal Medicine, Jan 2012
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Cervical Spine Manipulation and mobilization provides at least short term benefits for people with neck pain and headaches - Spine Journal, Aug 1996
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Spinal Manipulation was shown to be effective at relieving chronic neck pain at 6, 12, and up to 104 weeks after the completion of care - JMPT, Mar-Apr 2007
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After studying 88 unique Randomized Controlled Trials, we noted strong evidence of benefit for maintained pain reduction, improvement in function, and positive global perceived effect favoring exercise plus Spinal Mobilization and Manipulation versus control for subacute and chronic mechanical neck disorders - The Journal of Rheumatology, May 2007
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Our best evidence synthesis suggests that therapies involving manual therapy and exercise are more effective that alternative strategies for patients with neck pain - Spine Journal, Feb 2008
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There exists consistent evidence in support of mobilization as an effective noninvasive intervention for acute Whiplash Associated Disorder - Pain Research & Management, Spring 2005
Chiropractic and Headaches
Spinal Manipulation is as effective as prescription medication for the treatment of tension headaches and migraine headaches - JMPT, Sept 2001
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Spinal Manipulative Therapy produces favorable results when treating chronic cervicogenic headaches - Spine Journal, Feb 2010
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Spinal Manipulation/mobilization is effective in adults for migraine headaches and cervicogenic headaches - Journal of Chiropractic and Osteopathy, Feb 2010
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Scientific evidence suggests that Chiropractic Care, including Spinal Manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches - JMPT, June 2011
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Spinal Manipulation in combination with neck massage helps to reduce the pain intensity of migraine headaches - International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, Mar 2012
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Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation with massage therapy, physiotherapy, and relaxation may be equally effective as propranolol and topiramate (medications) in the prophylactic management of migraine headaches - Journal of Headache and Pain, Apr 2011
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Spinal Manipulation should be considered a treatment option for patients with frequent migraines - JMPT, Oct 1998
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Spinal Manipulation may be effective as prophylactic treatment for chronic/recurrent headaches. Based on trial results, these treatments appear to be associated with little risk of serious adverse effects - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004
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Spinal Manipulative Therapy is an effective treatment for tension headaches. In addition, four weeks after the end of treatment patients who received spinal manipulative therapy experienced a sustained therapeutic benefit and those who took medication (amitriptyline therapy) did not - JMPT, Mar-Apr 1995
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Following a twelve month clinical trial, results support that Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy is an effective treatment for migraine headaches - Australasian Chiropractic & Osteopathy Journal, Jul 1999
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Some people report significant improvement in migraines after Chiropractic Spinal Manipulative Therapy - JMPT, Feb 2000
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Spinal Manipulative Therapy and exercise can reduce the symptoms of cervicogenic headaches. The reduction in headaches was still effective 12 months after treatment - Spine Journal, Sept 2002
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Manual therapy is more effective than usual medication in the short- and longer term in reducing symptoms of chronic tension-type headaches - Cephalalgia, Jan 2011
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The successful treatment of cervicogenic headache usually requires a multifaceted approach including Spinal Manipulative Therapy. Medications alone are often ineffective or provide only modest benefit for this condition. - The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, Apr 2005