In the past, chiropractic research was limited and vague due to lack of technology and participation making any results hearsay or inconclusive. New emerging medical technologies in addition to more national organizations with regulations on scientific research, allow for higher quality and more accurate research to take place. Not to mention real results based on science rather than word of mouth as to the benefits of chiropractic care. Chiropractors in the research sector have been working diligently to produce quality research showcasing the benefits of chiropractic treatment. In this article we are going to be focusing on recent research as well as upcoming research studies that will give the chiropractic field even more legitimacy.
Chiropractic Research:
The Association Between Cervical Artery Dissection and Spinal Manipulation Among US Adults, 2023:
- The goal of this study was to disprove the rumor that cervical spinal manipulation causes stroke, and is not a safety concern. This study assessed the association between the two among US adults.
- Essentially, a case-control study was done matching those diagnosed with ischemic stroke and those that had spinal manipulation 6-7 months beforehand and if there was any association with the two. Association was also checked for stroke and a standard E&M medical visit prior to having a stroke.
- Results showed that E&M visits were 3x more likely than cervical spinal manipulation to be received in the week prior to stroke compared to controls. Results showed the same with both the 14-day and 30-day times.
- The study concluded that patients that received an E&M visit prior to onset of stroke was more likely than cervical spinal manipulation.
Effects of Manual Versus Instrumental Spinal Manipulation on Blood Flow of the Vertebral and Internal Carotid Arteries in Participants with Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain, 2023:
- The goal of this study was to compare the effects of blood flow with spinal manipulation and instrumental spinal manipulation in patients with nonspecific neck pain.
- This study involved 30 volunteers from 20-40 years of age with neck pain exceeding 3 months’ time. Participants were divided into the spinal manipulation group and the instrumental spinal manipulation group, and evaluated with a doppler ultrasound before and immediately after spinal manipulation.
- The outcomes were positive, but not significant, and more study is needed.
Health-Related Quality of Life Among United States Service Members with Low Back Pain Receiving Usual Care Plus Chiropractic Care vs Usual Care Alone, 2022:
- The goal of this study was to examine patient outcomes in clinical trial for pain intensity after treatment.
- This study consisted of active-duty military patients with low back pain. These patients reported less pain impeding on their day to day life, improved mental health, improved physical health, and decreased pain overall comparted to those who did not get chiropractic treatment.
- This study showed improvement in all facets of the military personel who received chiropractic care. This is why the findings of this study are exciting, because it shows chiropractic treatment improves not just pain but better improvement overall, mental and physical.
Clinical Effectiveness and Efficacy of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Spine Pain, 2021:
- The goal of this study was to see if a conservative approach to spine pain is preferable and even more effective that traditional treatment. Since a root cause is not often able to be identified with spinal pain, conservative treatment is being researched for better care.
- Spinal manipulation is amongst the top of conservative treatments being more closely looked at for efficacy of treatment. This study concluded that spinal manipulation may be as effective as traditional medical treatment. In fact, in this study it states “current clinical practice guidelines almost universally recommend the use of SMT for spine pain”. Further evidence and study is needed along with a placebo control, but outcomes for the efficacy of chiropractic treatment for spine pain was positive.
Neurobiological Basis of Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment of the Spine in the Care of Major Depression, 2020:
- The goal of this study was to show potential links between positive treatment outcomes of those with depression and chiropractic care. Depression affects the sympathetic nervous system, and literature suggests that chiropractic treatment may mitigate the damage of depression by activating the parasympathetic system counterbalancing the sympathetic nervous system.
- Researchers reviewed 35 cases showing chiropractic treatment impact on depression.
- This study concluded that spinal manipulation along with nerve stimulation may be used as treatment options for depression. It was found that spinal manipulation counteracts the overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system that depression is attributed to. While nerve stimulation produces neurotrophins which are vital in anti-depressive treatments.
Observational Retrospective Study of the Association of Initial Healthcare Provider for New-Onset Low Back Pain with Early and Long-Term Opioid Use, 2020:
- The goal of this study was to see the association between the initial appt with a chiropractor showing decreased opioid use, both inpatient and outpatient visits seen fir low back pain.
- 504 individuals 18 and older who were diagnosed with new-onset low back pain and non-opioid users were included in the study. The results showed that the patients who had an initial treatment with a chiropractor or other conservative therapy had decreased odds of both short- and long-term opioid used when compared to initial treatment with a primary care provider.
- The study overall concluded that conservative care such as chiropractic showed a significant decrease in short and long-term opioid use. This pushes for the incentive to use conservative treatment methods to decrease opioid use, and aid in the opioid epidemic.
It is becoming more and more evident as the years pass that chiropractic care along with its other conservative care counterparts, are infinitely beneficial and effective for treating a wide range of conditions effectively. It is evident that more, larger scale studies are needed in a multitude of conditions benefiting from chiropractic treatment. For now, current research is still being done and are showing positive outcomes.