The chiropractic profession has always relied on clinical research and experimentation. In the 21st Century, chiropractic research continues around the world. Chiropractic colleges are active in research as are several excellent research organizations which adhere to strict scientific standards. Here is some of the most noteworthy research studies conducted since 1980:
Web MD Report:
Web MD reported on a study of research data published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004, over a 4 year period taken from nearly two million patients - 700,000 patients were on a healthcare plan that included chiropractic care compared to ONE MILLION patients on a health care plan that did NOT include chiropractic care.
After following 1.7 million patients for 4 years here are the results:
-Chiropractic cut the cost of treating back pain by 28% compared to those who did not have chiropractic care.
-Back surgeries were reduced by 32% - that is 1 in every 3 people - one third less surgeries which reduced hospitalization by 41%.
-This study reported a 95% satisfaction rate with chiropractic care!
Oakland
At
The Manga Report:
"The Manga Report, from the
The British Medical Research Council:
The British Medical Research Council documented a ten-year study which compared chiropractic and hospital out-patient management of seventy-four (74) patients with acute and chronic mechanical low back pain. The results showed that chiropractic care was significantly more effective than medical treatment for patients with chronic and severe pain. Furthermore, these results were long-term and remained consistent throughout the two-year follow-up period. Chiropractic was also shown to save the British more than 10 million pounds a year by having hospital out-patients with low back pain under chiropractic care.
Zealand Study:
These findings reinforced the conclusions of the New Zealand Report (377 pages) which was one of the most thorough and positive studies of chiropractic care on record. The twenty-month project was conducted by a government commission.
It concluded that spinal adjusting is a vital, very safe and clinically effective form of health care. Chiropractors have more thorough training in spinal mechanics and spinal care than any other health professional. Furthermore, chiropractic is scientifically based and must be made an integral part of all hospital care. Finally, the report said that "modern chiropractic is a soundly based and valuable branch of health care in a specialized area neglected by the medical professional."
J. S. Wright, D.C., conducted a study and reported to the Journal of Chiropractic that 74.6 percent of patients with recurring headaches, including migraines, were either cured or experienced reduced headache symptoms after receiving chiropractic adjustments. Daniel C. Cherkin, Ph.D. and Frederick A. MacCormack, Ph.D., a survey in 1989 that concluded that patients who were receiving care from health maintenance organizations (HMOs) in Washington State were three times as likely to report satisfaction with chiropractic care as they were from other physicians. The patients also reported they believed that their chiropractor was concerned about their welfare.
AV MED HMO Study:
AV MED, a large HMO in the southeast, wanted to see if it could save money by having patients visit chiropractors for back pain. They chose one-hundred patients, eighty of whom had already been treated medically--without results. In each case, the patient had been seen by an average of 1.8 M.D.s. After receiving chiropractic adjustments, not one of the 100 patients had to have surgery. Furthermore, 86 percent said that chiropractic care saved the HMO $250,000 in surgical costs alone!
Nevada Worker's Compensation Study:
The State Industrial Insurance Systems (SIIS) in
In 1985, the
The Bristish Medical Journal:
The British Medical Journal reported in the June 2, 1990 issue that T.W. Meade, M.D. studied patients over a two-year period. Dr. Meade found that "for patients with low-back pain in whom spinal adjustments are not contraindicated, chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long-term benefit in comparison with hospital outpatient management."
Florida Study:
In 1991, Steve Wolk, Ph.D., studied 10,652 worker's compensation cases in
The Gallup Organization conducted a demographic poll in 1991 which revealed that ninety percent of chiropractic patients felt their care was effective. More than eighty percent were satisfied with the care they received and almost seventy-five percent felt most of their expectations had been met during chiropractic visits.
Oregon Study:Also in 1991, Joanne Nyiendo, Ph.D., conducted a worker's compensation study in
Saskatchuwan Hospital Study:
Two years later, in 1993, researchers at the
Journal of American Health Policy:
A 1992 review of data gathered from over two million users of chiropractic care in the
The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) issues guidelines for low back problems:
The U.S. agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) formed a 23-person panel to find out the best ways to care for low back problems in adults. These health care professionals, including experts in orthopedic surgery, family practice, internal medicine, physical and rehabilitative medicine, emergency medicine, neurosurgery, rheumatology, and many other disciplines reviewed more than 3,900 studies on the topic. These guidelines released in December 1994 verified what chiropractors had been saying for years: surgery and medication should be a last resort treatment for most cases. Moderate exercise and chiropractic adjustments are far more effective and less risky.
One clear message from all these studies is that chiropractic remains a cost effective and efficient method of healing that is, in many instances, equal or superior to medical care. The studies, which have often been conducted by state health or workers compensation agencies, have shown that chiropractic is often less expensive, significantly reduces the time away from work and often eliminates the dangers of drugs and surgery.
Philip R. Lee, M.D. -assistant secretary for health and director of the Public Health Service, said, "By encouraging people with acute low back problems to resume normal activities, using only those treatments that have been scientifically shown to be effective, these guidelines could save Americans considerable anguish time and money now spent on unneeded or unproven medical care."
It's Your Life... Live it in !
Schedule your Free Consultation Today
615.794.9155
Dr. David Mason
Franklin Chiropractor | Mason Chiropractic Health & Wellness | 615-794-9155
1441 New Highway 96 West Suite 3
Franklin, TN 37064