Research Validates Safety:

 RAND Report:

 RAND Report:

 RAND Report:

 “The appropriateness of Manipulation and Mobilization of the Cervical Spine”

 The source of public concern of a condition known as vertebral artery syndrome, which can occur when sudden head movements disrupt the blood flow in the vertebral arteries, possibly leading to stroke, from chiropractic treatment is extremely remote.  According to this study only one out of every million chiropractic patients may experience vertebral artery syndrome.¹  In comparison to the risk of gastrointestinal complications from over, counter pain reliever is 400 times greater than the risk of chiropractic care, and the mortality rate for people who undergo cervical spine surgery is over 7000 times higher. 

The following studies demonstrate the how safe chiropractic care is and should be established in the first line treatment protocols for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. 

The following studies demonstrate the how safe chiropractic care is and should be established in the first line treatment protocols for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. 

The following studies demonstrate the how safe chiropractic care is and should be established in the first line treatment protocols for neuromusculoskeletal conditions. 

The Magna Report

 The Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned Manga Report represents the largest analysis of scientific literature on the most effective and cost effective treatments for low back pain. After reviewing all of the international evidence on the management of low back pain, lead investigator Pran Manga, Ph.D., found the treatments provided by Doctors of Chiropractic were exceptionally safe - much safer than for standard medical treatments of similar conditions.

 The Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned Manga Report represents the largest analysis of scientific literature on the most effective and cost effective treatments for low back pain. After reviewing all of the international evidence on the management of low back pain, lead investigator Pran Manga, Ph.D., found the treatments provided by Doctors of Chiropractic were exceptionally safe - much safer than for standard medical treatments of similar conditions.

 The Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned Manga Report represents the largest analysis of scientific literature on the most effective and cost effective treatments for low back pain. After reviewing all of the international evidence on the management of low back pain, lead investigator Pran Manga, Ph.D., found the treatments provided by Doctors of Chiropractic were exceptionally safe - much safer than for standard medical treatments of similar conditions.

ü       "There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low back pain. Some medical treatments are equally safe, but others are unsafe and generate iatrogenic (doctor-induced) complications for low back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain."¹

ü       "Indeed, several existing medical therapies of low back pain are generally contraindicated on the basis of the existing clinical trials. There is also some evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations are less safe and less effective when performed by non chiropractic professionals"¹

ü       "Chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low back pain. Chiropractic management is greatly superior to medical management in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost-effectiveness and patient satisfaction."¹

THE AGENCY ON HEALTH CARE POLICY AND RESEARCH STUDY

On December 8, 1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services released Clinical Practice Guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines were developed after extensive study of diagnostic and treatment methods for acute low back pain.

ü       Conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued in most cases before considering surgical intervention.²

ü       The risk of serious complications from lumbar spinal manipulation is rare.²

ü       Prescription drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant medications and colchicine are not recommended for acute low back problems.² 

THE NEW ZEALAND COMMISSION REPORT

The government of New Zealand published a 377 page report which assessed the efficacy and safety of chiropractic care. The report was a result of almost 2 years of conducted hearings from recognized health care experts.

ü       "Chiropractors are the only health practitioners who are necessarily equipped by their education and training to carry out spinal manual therapy (spinal adjustments)."

ü       "Chiropractors carry out spinal diagnosis and therapy at a sophisticated and refined level." ³

ü       "Spinal manual therapy in the hands of a registered chiropractor is safe." ³

ü       "The duration and training of a registered chiropractor are sufficient to enable him/her to determine whether there are contraindications to spinal manual therapy in a particular case, and whether that patient should have medical care instead of, or as well as, chiropractic care." ³

Citations:

1. Shekelle, P.G., E. Hurwitz, I. Coulter, A. Adams, et al. “The appropriateness of Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Low-Back Pain.” Santa Monica: RAND 1996

2. The Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness of Chiropractic Management of Low-Back Pain (The Manga Report). Pran Manga and Associates (1993) - University of Ottawa, Canada.

3. Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. Clinical Practice Guidelines. Bigos S, et al. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Publication No. 950642 (1994) - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

4. New Zealand Report. Hasselberg PD. Government Printer, Wellington - 1979.