Well, the tides are finally turning and some might say that pigs are actually beginning to fly! It would seem that more than one hundred years of competitive animosity between the medical and chiropractic professions is finally beginning to wear away and buckle under the strain of consistent proof now clearly evident thanks to the modern era of evidence-based health care.
In a recent summary document on lower back pain, published by the American College of Physicians (the well known governing body for Medical Doctors in the U.S.) and endorsed by the American Pain Society, experts from the medical profession have finally conceded that for most forms of lower back pain, that spinal manipulation, when performed by a highly qualified professional such as a Chiropractor or Osteopath, is clearly one of the safest and most effective forms of treatment and management. The study goes as far as to say that spinal manipulation is, in fact, the only first line treatment option and non-drug intervention with proven benefit.
The conclusions of the study were drawn from a comprehensive literature review performed by a panel of medical experts in an effort to provide Doctors, and the public in general, with evidence-based guidelines for the management of lower back pain and related musculoskeletal conditions. It strongly implies that the Chiropractic approach to lower back pain, including spinal manipulation, is a highly effective and consistently reliable mode of treatment, and is even more effective as part of an overall plan of lower back rehabilitation, including exercise, postural control and lifestyle modification. The ACP study joins the ever-growing body of research from the last few decades identifying Chiropractic treatment as both safe and highly effective, and the most appropriate form of intervention for back pain, neck pain, headache, and most other forms of physical ailment and injury.
Chiropractors are essentially highly trained Doctors specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders affecting the spine and extremities. There is an emphasis on correction and rehabilitation in addition to basic pain relief. Chiropractors specialize in the administration of various manual therapies, including forms of spinal and extremity manipulation, to address and often correct the underlying cause of pain and dysfunction. Chiropractic treatment is safe and effective for persons of all ages, including children and the elderly. If you or a loved one are suffering from any form of physical pain or injury, it is very likely that a Chiropractor can help you. Contact your local Chiropractor to book a consultation and take your first step toward recovery.