A peer reviewed study from the SPINE Journal, published 4/15/13, compared standard medical care (SMC) with and without collaboration with Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT). They compared the outcome of treatment of Acute Low Back Pain in 18-35 year olds. One group only received SMC. The other group had SMC plus CMT. At the end of the study, 4 weeks later, the group which received SMC reported only 17% reported total relief of pain or were greatly improved. In the group that received SMC and CMT 73% reported total relief of pain or were greatly improved. This is the latest of many scientific studies showing demonstrating the benefits of chiropractic care for treating low back pain.
The problem is that acute low back pain becomes chronic low back pain. According to the National Institute of Healths (NIH) website: If you have lower back pain, you are not alone. Nearly everyone at some point has back pain that interferes with work, routine daily activities, or recreation. Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low back pain, the most common cause of job-related disability and a leading contributor to missed work. Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States — only headache is more common.
The key to a an efficient and effective health care system to direct patient’s to the mode of treatment that is proven to work. Many of my patient’s are referred by their “well informed” PCP’s. Unfortunately, most patients who present to their PCP with acute low back pain only get SMC.